Language/Czech/Grammar/Genitive-Case-in-Czech

Welcome to this Czech Grammar Lesson! Today, we'll review the genitive case in Czech.

The genitive case is used in Czech to indicate possession or to show a relationship between two nouns. In English, it's often indicated by the word "of."

In general, the genitive case is formed by adding an appropriate ending to the noun, depending on its gender and number. Let's take a closer look at each of these rules:

Masculine nouns ending in consonants

Masculine nouns ending in consonants generally take the ending "-u" in the genitive case. However, some masculine animate nouns can take the ending "-a" instead. Here are some examples:

Stůl (table) - stolu (of the table)

Muž (man) - muže (of the man)

Hrad (castle) - hradu (of the castle)

Note that for some masculine animate nouns, the genitive form can be either "-a" or "-u", depending on the speaker's preference. For example, "pán" (gentleman) can be "pána" or "pánu" in the genitive case.

Feminine nouns ending in "-a"

Feminine nouns ending in "-a" generally take the ending "-y" and "-e" in the genitive case. Here are some examples:

Kniha (book) - knihy (of the book)

Stavba (building) - stavby (of the building)

Kavárna (cafe) - kavárny (of the cafe)

Feminine nouns ending in "-e"

Feminine nouns ending in "-e" generally take the ending "-e" in the genitive case. Here are some examples:

Kancelář (office) - kanceláře (of the office)

Židle (chair) - židle (of the chair)

Řeka (river) - řeky (of the river)

Note that some feminine nouns have irregular genitive forms. For example, "dívka" (girl) becomes "dívky" in the genitive case.

Neuter nouns ending in "-o"

Neuter nouns ending in "-o" generally take the ending "-a" in the genitive case. Here are some examples:

Město (city) - města (of the city)

Okno (window) - okna (of the window)

Auto (car) - auta (of the car)

Neuter nouns ending in "-e"

Neuter nouns ending in "-e" generally take the ending "-e" in the genitive case. Here are some examples:

Kuře (chicken) - kuře (of the chicken)

Kolo (bike) - kola (of the bike)

Kuře (chicken) - kuře (of the chicken)

Plural nouns ending in "-i" or "-e"

Plural nouns ending in "-i" or "-e" generally take the ending "-ů" in the genitive case. Here are some examples:

Stoly (tables) - stolů (of the tables)

Okna (windows) - oken (of the windows)

Kanceláře (offices) - kanceláří (of the offices)

Note that some plural nouns have irregular genitive forms. For example, "děti" (children) becomes "dětí" in the genitive case.

Summary

To summarize, the genitive case in Czech is used to indicate possession, origin, and other relationships between nouns. The endings for each gender and number are as follows:

Gender	Singular Endings	Plural Endings	Example	Genitive Form
Masculine Animate	-a / -u	-ů	muž (man)	muže (of the man)
Masculine Inanimate	-u / -a	-ů	stůl (table)	stolu (of the table)
Feminine	-y / -e	-í	kniha (book)	knihy (of the book)
Neuter	-a	-í	město (city)	města (of the city)

Note that while most nouns follow these general rules, there are some irregular forms and exceptions that you'll need to memorize. Additionally, the genitive case can change depending on the gender and number of the noun, so it's important to pay attention to the specific rules for each noun. With practice, however, you'll become more comfortable using the genitive case and communicating effectively in Czech.

Keep in mind that there are exceptions and irregularities in the Czech language, and some nouns may have irregular genitive forms that you'll need to memorize. Using the genitive case correctly is important in Czech, as it helps to clarify the relationships between nouns in a sentence.

Let's take a look at some examples of how the genitive case is used in Czech:

Masculine

Vchod hradu (the entrance of the castle)

Vchody hradů (the entrances of the castles)

In this example, "hrad" (castle) is a masculine inanimate noun, so it takes the genitive ending "-u" to become "hradu" in the genitive case. "Vchod" (entrance) is also a masculine inanimate noun, so it takes the genitive ending "-u" to become "vchodu". In the plural form, "hrad" becomes "hrady" and takes the genitive ending "-ů" to become "hradů", while "vchod" becomes "vchody" and takes the genitive ending "-ů" to become "vchodů".

Feminine

Okno školy (the window of the school)

Okna škol (the windows of the schools)

In this example, "okno" (window) is a neuter noun ending in "-o", so it takes the genitive ending "-a" to become "okna" in the genitive case. "Škola" (school) is a feminine noun ending in "-a", so it takes the genitive ending "-y" and "-e" to become "školy" in the genitive case. In the plural form, "okno" becomes "okna" and takes the genitive ending "-ů" to become "oken", while "škola" becomes "školy" and takes the genitive ending "-í" to become "škol".

Neuter

Klíč auta (the key of the car)

Klíče aut (the keys of the cars)

In this example, "klíč" (key) is a masculine noun ending in "-í", so it takes the genitive ending "-e" to become "klíče" in the genitive case. "Auto" (car) is a neuter noun ending in "-o", so it takes the genitive ending "-a" to become "auta" in the genitive case. In the plural form, "klíč" becomes "klíče" and takes the genitive ending "-ů" to become "klíčů", while "auto" becomes "auta" and takes the genitive ending "-ů" to become "autů".

Practice

With practice, you'll become more comfortable using the genitive case and communicating effectively in Czech. Here are some additional tips for mastering the genitive case:

1. Practice with native speakers: The best way to learn any language is to practice speaking with native speakers. Find a language exchange partner or join a language group to practice your Czech skills.
2. Use resources like textbooks and websites: There are many resources available to help you learn Czech grammar and practice using the genitive case. Use textbooks, online courses, and websites to supplement your learning.
3. Memorize the irregular forms: While most Czech nouns follow the rules we've outlined above, there are some irregular forms that you'll need to memorize. Create flashcards or use a memorization app to help you learn these irregular forms.
4. Learn the cases in context: It's important to learn the genitive case in context, so you understand how it's used in sentences. Read Czech literature, listen to Czech music, and watch Czech movies to gain a better understanding of how the genitive case is used in everyday language.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the genitive case in Czech is an essential part of the language that is used to indicate possession, origin, and other relationships between nouns. By learning the rules and practicing with native speakers, you can master this important aspect of Czech grammar and become a confident communicator in the language.

Other Lessons

• Accusative Case in Czech
• Indefinite articles in Czech
• Negation
• Verb There to be in Czech
• Inclusive Case in Czech
• Questions
• Verb to speak in Czech
• Nouns
• Present Continuous in Czech
• How to Use "Být" (to Be)