polski · B1 · grammar · 4 minutes
Trzeba, można, wolno, warto
State necessity, possibility, permission, and value without naming a subject.
Understand the choice
Impersonal modal words let instructions stay general and avoid a forced passive. The infinitive carries aspect, so perfective often suits a one-time completed requirement.
Core rule: Trzeba + infinitive is necessity; można possibility/permission; wolno permission; warto worthwhile action.
Notice it in context
Trzeba wypełnić formularz, ale można poprosić o pomoc.
The form must be completed, but one can ask for help.
Trzeba supports perfective wypełnić; można supports poprosić; no nominative subject appears.
Nie wolno tu parkować.
Parking is not allowed here.
Nie wolno expresses prohibition; imperfective parkować is general activity.
Warto przeczytać umowę przed podpisaniem.
It is worth reading the contract before signing.
Warto frames value; perfective przeczytać emphasizes complete reading.
What to remember
- Nie trzeba means no need; nie wolno means forbidden.
- Past/future necessity uses trzeba było/będzie.
Common trap: Do not confuse absence of necessity with prohibition.