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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 September 2014
If and its Polish equivalents
If is the most widely used conjunction in conditional sentences in English. It may introduce any type of conditionals independently of their probability value or tenses applied. Polish has several equivalents of the English if, the use of which differs as to the frequency of their occurrence as well as to their function.
Polish conjunctions may be generally divided into two groups: applied to express hypothetical meaning and non-hypothetical ones. The latter are as follows: jeżeli (jeśli), gdy, kiedy, jak and skoro. Similar function is fulfilled also by the expression o ile.
The most common conditional conjunction in Polish is jeśli (jeżeli). It introduces clauses (or clause equivalents) expressing condition, cause, reason, justification of something, circumstances preceding something, or circumstances that may precede something (cf. SJP Szymczak ed. 1983). That means that it is employed in clauses with factual (positive truth commitment) and theoretical/open (neutral truth commitment) meanings. Practically speaking, jeśli/jeżeli may substitute English if in all non-hypothetical meanings.
The time reference in factual conditional clauses may be present or past:
[1] Jeśli to możliwe, to jadę z tobą.
[2] Jeśli kupił ten samochód, to miał dużo pieniędzy.
whereas for theoretical clauses – future, present or past time reference is possible:
[3] Jeśli spotkam go jutro, to dam mu ten list.
[4] Jeśli jesteś odważny, idź teraz do niej.
[5] Jeśli zjadł tę rybę, to mógł się rozchorować.
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