Language/Slovak/Grammar/The-Genitive-Case

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Slovak → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → The Genitive Case

Welcome to this lesson on the Genitive Case in Slovak! As a beginner, you might be wondering why cases are so essential in the Slovak language. Well, cases are like the backbone of Slovak grammar – they help us understand the relationships between words in a sentence. The genitive case, specifically, is often used to express possession, quantities, and some prepositional phrases. Imagine saying "the book of the student" instead of just "the student’s book."

In this lesson, we will dive into the genitive case, learn its different endings, and discover when to use it. By the end, you will be well-equipped to recognize and use the genitive case in various contexts.

What is the Genitive Case?

The genitive case is one of the six grammatical cases in Slovak. It is primarily used to indicate possession or a relationship between nouns. In English, we often use the preposition "of" to express similar relationships, but in Slovak, we modify the endings of nouns based on their gender and number.

When to Use the Genitive Case

Here are some common situations where the genitive case is used:

• To show possession: "the book of John" (kniha Jana)

• To express a part of something: "a piece of cake" (kus koláča)

• After certain prepositions: "without a friend" (bez priateľa)

• With quantities: "a lot of apples" (veľa jabĺk)

The Endings of the Genitive Case

The endings for the genitive case vary depending on the gender (masculine, feminine, neuter) and number (singular or plural) of the noun. Here’s a breakdown:

Masculine Nouns

• Singular: -a (e.g., "stol" → "stola")

• Plural: -ov (e.g., "stoly" → "stolov")

Feminine Nouns

• Singular: -y or -e (e.g., "kniha" → "knihy")

• Plural: -í (e.g., "knihy" → "kníh")

Neuter Nouns

• Singular: -a (e.g., "dieťa" → "dieťaťa")

• Plural: - (no change, e.g., "dieťa" → "detí")

Examples of the Genitive Case

Let's look at some examples to get a better understanding:

Slovak	Pronunciation	English
kniha Jana	ˈkɲiːha ˈjaːna	the book of John
kus koláča	kus koˈlaːtʃa	a piece of cake
bez priateľa	bɛz ˈpɾɪaːtɛʎa	without a friend
veľa jabĺk	ˈʋɛʎa ˈjaːbl̩k	a lot of apples
stôl	stoːl	table
stola	ˈstola	of the table
kniha	ˈkɲiːha	book
knihy	ˈkniːhɪ	books
dieťa	ˈdɪɛta	child
detí	ˈdɛtɪ	of children

Practice Exercises

Now that you have a grasp of the genitive case, it’s time to put your knowledge to the test! Below are some exercises for you to practice.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences using the correct form of the genitive case.

1. Kniha ___ (Jana) je na stole.

2. Mám veľa ___ (jablko).

3. Bez ___ (priateľ) nemôžem ísť.

4. To je stôl ___ (učiteľ).

5. Dám ti kus ___ (koláč).

Exercise 2: Translate to Slovak

Translate the following English sentences into Slovak, using the genitive case where necessary.

1. The house of my friend.

2. A piece of bread.

3. Without the car.

4. The color of the sky.

5. Many books of the library.

Exercise 3: Identify the Case

Identify whether the underlined noun is in the genitive case or not.

1. To je kniha _Jana_.

2. Mám _veľa_ jabĺk.

3. Bez _tých_ priateľov.

4. _Stol_ je nový.

5. Kúpil som _knihu_.

Solutions to Exercises

Here are the solutions to the exercises above:

Solutions for Exercise 1

1. Kniha Jany je na stole.

2. Mám veľa jabĺk.

3. Bez priateľa nemôžem ísť.

4. To je stôl učiteľa.

5. Dám ti kus koláča.

Solutions for Exercise 2

1. Dom _mojho_ priateľa.

2. Kúsok _chleba_.

3. Bez _auta_.

4. Farba _neba_.

5. Mnoho _knih_ z _knižnice_.

Solutions for Exercise 3

1. _Jana_ - Genitive.

2. _veľa_ - Not Genitive.

3. _tých_ - Not Genitive.

4. _Stol_ - Not Genitive.

5. _knihu_ - Not Genitive.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have now taken a significant step in your journey to mastering Slovak. Understanding the genitive case is fundamental to forming sentences that express ownership and relationships. Keep practicing, and soon you'll feel more comfortable using it in conversation. Remember, language learning is a journey, and each step brings you closer to fluency.

If you have questions or need further clarification, feel free to ask. Happy learning!

Table of Contents - Slovak Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Unit 1: Greetings and Introductions

• Greetings
• Introductions
• Nationalities and Languages

  ---

Unit 2: Nouns, Pronouns, and Verbs in the Present Tense

• Nouns and Pronouns
• The Present Tense of Regular Verbs
• The Verbs 'To Be' and 'To Have'
• Basic Sentence Structure

  ---

Unit 3: Slovak Culture and Society

• Slovak History
• Slovak Traditions and Customs
• Slovak Food and Drink

  ---

Unit 4: Daily Activities and Routine

• Daily Routine
• Free Time
• Chores and Errands

  ---

Unit 5: Cases and Prepositions

• The Genitive Case
• The Locative Case
• Prepositions

  ---

Unit 6: Slovak Geography and Nature

• Regions of Slovakia
• Slovak Nature
• Slovak Folk Tales and Legends

  ---

Unit 7: Travel and Transportation

• Transportation
• Travel and Accommodation
• Directions

  ---

Unit 8: Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjectives
• Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs
• The Imperfective and Perfective

  ---

Unit 9: Slovak Art and Music

• Slovak Art
• Slovak Music
• Slovak Film and Literature

  ---

Unit 10: Time and Dates

• Telling Time
• Days of the Week and Months of the Year
• Holidays and Celebrations

Sources

• Slovak declension - Wikipedia
• Slovak cases | coLanguage
• 5 Most Common Slovak Sentence Structures: Essential Guide - Ling ...

Other Lessons

• Negation
• Nouns and Pronouns
• How to Use Be
• How to Use Have
• Prepositions
• Adjectives
• The Imperfective and Perfective
• Basic Sentence Structure
• Pronouns
• Give your Opinion

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