Difference between aby and żeby

ufuk
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Difference between aby and żeby

Postby ufuk » 2013-12-21, 18:06

Hi fellow unilang community,

I think I kind of started learning Polish and there is this thing I can't seem to find an answer. Dictionaries say both aby and żeby mean "in order to", the texts I encounter verify this but I still think there must be a difference, because a and że have very different meanings. Right?

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unikko
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Re: Difference between aby and żeby

Postby unikko » 2013-12-21, 19:35

It's a stylistic difference. In casual talking overusing of "aby" sounds pretentious. Also, there are two synonyms which means the same but are used almost only in literature: "by" and "ażeby".
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pittmirg
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Re: Difference between aby and żeby

Postby pittmirg » 2013-12-21, 20:53

The difference is simply stylistic, indeed.

I wouldn't say by is only used in literature in this meaning: I use it quite often while writing posts, messages etc. (it's handy 'cause it's short). Although in casual speech I strongly prefer żeby.

Aby (but none of the other 'in order to' words!) can also be used as a sort of adverb or clause-modifying particle: it indicates suspicion. Czy on aby nie widział naszego towaru?
Śnieg, zawierucha w nas

ufuk
Posts:21
Joined:2011-09-04, 7:21
Real Name:Ufuk
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Country:TRTurkey (Türkiye)

Re: Difference between aby and żeby

Postby ufuk » 2013-12-21, 23:45

Thank you all for the answers;

So, in colloquial speech, the one I will use is żeby.


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