Language/Czech/Grammar/Genitive-Case-in-Czech
Here's a lesson on 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." Here's how to form the genitive case in Czech:
Masculine nouns ending in consonants
- Add "u" to the end of the noun
- Stůl (table) - stolu (of the table)
- Muž (man) - muže (of the man)
- Hrad (castle) - hradu (of the castle)
Feminine nouns ending in "-a"
- Replace the "-a" with "-y" and add "e" to the end
- Kniha (book) - knihy (of the book)
- Stavba (building) - stavby (of the building)
- Kavárna (cafe) - kavárny (of the cafe)
Feminine nouns ending in "-e"
- Add "e" to the end of the noun
- Kancelář (office) - kanceláře (of the office)
- Židle (chair) - židle (of the chair)
- Řeka (river) - řeky (of the river)
Neuter nouns ending in "-o"
- Replace the "-o" with "-a"
- Město (city) - města (of the city)
- Okno (window) - okna (of the window)
- Auto (car) - auta (of the car)
Neuter nouns ending in "-e"
- Add "e" to the end of the noun
- 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"
- Add "ů" to the end of the noun
- Stoly (tables) - stolů (of the tables)
- Okna (windows) - oken (of the windows)
- Kanceláře (offices) - kanceláří (of the offices)
It's important to note that the genitive case can change depending on the gender and number of the noun. For example, "of the table" is "stolu" for a singular masculine noun, but "stolů" for plural masculine nouns. Additionally, 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. With practice, you'll become more comfortable using the genitive case and communicating effectively in Czech.
EXAMPLES OF USE
Masculine
| ENTRANCE | VCHOD |
| CASTLE | HRAD |
| SINGULAR | PLURAL |
|---|---|
| VCHOD HRADU | VCHODY HRADŮ |
| THE ENTRANCE OF THE CASTLE | THE ENTRANCES OF THE CASTLES |
Feminine
| WINDOW | OKHO |
| SCHOOL | ŠKOLA |
| SINGULAR | PLURAL |
|---|---|
| OKNO ŠKOLY | OKNA ŠKOL |
| THE WINDOW OF THE SCHOOL | THE WINDOWS OF THE SCHOOLS |
Neuter
| KEY | KLÍČ |
| CAR | AUTO |
| SINGULAR | PLURAL |
|---|---|
| KLÍČ AUTA | KLÍČE AUT |
| THE KEY OF THE CAR | THE KEYS OF THE CARS |