Difference between revisions of "Language/Slovenian/Grammar/Nouns,-articles-and-gender"
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{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
! Singular !! Plural | |||
|- | |- | ||
! Nominative | hiša | hiše | ! Nominative || hiša || hiše | ||
|- | |- | ||
! Genitive | hiše | hiš | ! Genitive || hiše || hiš | ||
|- | |- | ||
! Dative | hiši | hišam | ! Dative || hiši || hišam | ||
|- | |- | ||
! Accusative | hišo | hiše | ! Accusative || hišo || hiše | ||
|- | |- | ||
! Locative | o hiši | o hišah | ! Locative || o hiši || o hišah | ||
|- | |- | ||
! Instrumental | z hišo | z hišami | ! Instrumental || z hišo || z hišami | ||
|} | |} | ||
Note that the endings change depending on the case and whether the noun is singular or plural. For example, when using the noun in the genitive case (to show possession), the ending changes to "e" in the singular and "ov" in the plural. | |||
Note that the endings change depending on the case and whether the noun is singular or plural. For example, when using the noun in the genitive case (to show possession), the ending changes to "e" in the singular and "ov" in the plural. | |||
=== Neutral nouns === | === Neutral nouns === | ||
Revision as of 12:00, 14 March 2023
As a Slovenian language teacher for over 20 years, I am excited to introduce the basics of Slovenian noun decline, articles, and gender to my students. These elements are essential to understanding Slovenian grammar and speaking the language correctly. In this lesson, you will learn the different cases and how to decline adjectives to match the gender and case of the noun. You will also learn when to use which case and how to use articles in different situations.
Noun declension
Slovenian has six cases, each with different endings depending on the gender of the noun. The six cases are:
- Nominative (kdo/kaj) - Who/what the subject is
- Genitive (koga/česa) - Whose/what
- Dative (komu/čemu) - To/for whom/what
- Accusative (koga/kaj) - Whom/what the object is
- Locative (o kom/o čem) - About whom/what
- Instrumental (s kom/s čim) - With whom/what
The gender of the noun can be either masculine, feminine, or neutral. Each gender has its own declension pattern, which consists of endings added to the noun stem.
Masculine nouns
Masculine nouns usually end in a consonant in the nominative singular form. They have four different declension patterns depending on whether they end in a hard, soft, or sibilant consonant, or if they end in a vowel. For example:
| Slovenian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| avto | ['aʋtɔ] | car |
| sin | [sìːn] | son |
| gospod | [gɔspɔd] | mister / sir |
| drevo | ['drɛʋɔ] | tree |
Here is the declension pattern for the masculine noun "avto" (car) for each case:
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | avto | avti |
| Genitive | avta | avtov |
| Dative | avtu | avtom |
| Accusative | avto | avte |
| Locative | o avtu | o avtih |
| Instrumental | z avtom | z avti |
Note that the endings change depending on the case and whether the noun is singular or plural. For example, when using the noun in the genitive case (to show possession), the ending changes to "a" in the singular and "ov" in the plural.
Feminine nouns
Feminine nouns usually end in "a" in the nominative singular form. They have two declension patterns, depending on whether they have a hard or soft stem consonant. For example:
| Slovenian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| hiša | ['xìːʃa] | house |
| knjiga | ['knjìːga] | book |
Here is the declension pattern for the feminine noun "hiša" (house) for each case:
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | hiša | hiše |
| Genitive | hiše | hiš |
| Dative | hiši | hišam |
| Accusative | hišo | hiše |
| Locative | o hiši | o hišah |
| Instrumental | z hišo | z hišami |
Note that the endings change depending on the case and whether the noun is singular or plural. For example, when using the noun in the genitive case (to show possession), the ending changes to "e" in the singular and "ov" in the plural.
Neutral nouns
Neutral nouns usually end in "o" in the nominative singular form. They have one declension pattern, which applies to all neutral nouns. For example:
| Slovenian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| mesto | ['mèːstɔ] | city/town |
| okno | ['oːknɔ] | window |
Here is the declension pattern for the neutral noun "mesto" (city) for each case:
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| Nominative | mesta |
| Genitive | mest |
| Dative | mestom |
| Accusative | mesta |
| Locative | o mestih |
| Instrumental | z mesti |
Note that the neuter declension does not show gender differentiation between the singular and the plural.
Articles
Articles are used to indicate the gender and number of the noun. Slovenian has two articles, the definite article "the" and the indefinite article "a/an".
Definite article
The definite article is used when referring to a specific noun. The definite article is declined like an adjective, according to the gender and case of the noun that it precedes.
| Gender | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | ta avto | ti avti |
| Feminine | ta hiša | te hiše |
| Neutral | to mesto | ta mesta |
Note that the definite article changes according to the gender of the noun. In addition, the definite article is declined the same way as an adjective in relation to the gender, number, and case of the noun. For example, when using the definite article with the masculine noun "avto" (car) in the genitive case (to show possession), the ending changes to "ega" in the singular and "ih" in the plural.
Indefinite article
The indefinite article is used when referring to a non-specific noun. The indefinite article is "en" for masculine nouns, "ena" for feminine nouns, and "eno" for neutral nouns. The indefinite article is not declined.
| Gender | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | en avto | avti |
| Feminine | ena hiša | hiše |
| Neutral | eno mesto | mesta |
Note that the indefinite article does not change according to the case or number of the noun.
Adjectives
Adjectives in Slovenian must agree with the gender, case, and number of the noun. In other words, the endings of adjectives change depending on the gender, case, and number of the noun they modify. The following table shows how adjectives change according to the gender, case, and number of the noun:
| Gender | Case | Number | Adjective ending |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | Nominative | Singular | -i |
| Plural | -i | ||
| Genitive | Singular | -ega | |
| Plural | -ih | ||
| Dative | Singular | -emu | |
| Plural | -im | ||
| Accusative | Singular | -ega | |
| Plural | -e | ||
| Locative | Singular | -em | |
| Plural | -ih | ||
| Instrumental | Singular | -im | |
| Plural | -imi | ||
| Feminine | Nominative | Singular | -a |
| Plural | -e | ||
| Genitive | Singular | -e | |
| Plural | -ih | ||
| Dative | Singular | -i | |
| Plural | -im | ||
| Accusative | Singular | -o | |
| Plural | -e | ||
| Locative | Singular | -i | |
| Plural | -ih | ||
| Instrumental | Singular | -o | |
| Plural | -imi | ||
| Neutral | Nominative | Singular | -o |
| Plural | -a | ||
| Genitive | Singular | -ega | |
| Plural | -ih | ||
| Dative | Singular | -emu | |
| Plural | -im | ||
| Accusative | Singular | -o | |
| Plural | -a | ||
| Locative | Singular | -em | |
| Plural | -ih | ||
| Instrumental | Singular | -im | |
| Plural | -imi |
Note that adjectives change according to the gender, case, and number of the noun they modify. The masculine plural and feminine plural forms are identical, so you can tell the gender of the noun by the ending of the adjective. The neutral plural form is different, ending in "-a" for plural nouns.
Summary
To summarize, Slovenian has six cases (nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, locative, and instrumental) and three genders (masculine, feminine, neutral). Nouns must be declined according to their gender and case, and adjectives must agree with the gender, case, and number of the noun they modify.