Language/Slovak/Grammar/The-Genitive-Case
As a Slovak language teacher with 20 years of teaching experience, I am excited to introduce you to the genitive case in the Slovak language. Understanding the genitive case is essential for basic communication in Slovak and will allow you to express possession and describe nouns in relation to other nouns.
The Basics of the Genitive Case
In the Slovak language, there are seven cases used to modify nouns, and the genitive case is one of them. The Genitive case is formed by adding different suffixes to the ending of a noun. Let's take the example of the word "auto" (car). In the genitive case, the word becomes "auta".
Generally speaking, the genitive case is used to show possession, to indicate relationships, and to describe qualities or qualities of things. To form the genitive singular and plural of nouns, you should follow these rules:
Genitive Singular
- Nouns ending in -a, -ia, -ie, and -ô: Replace the ending with "-y". li>Nouns ending in -c, -č, -k, -h, -r, -n, or -ň: Add "-a" to the end.
- Nouns ending in consonant clusters that don't include these letters: Add "-u" to the end.
Genitive Plural
- Nouns ending in -a, -ia, -ie, and -ô: Replace "-a" with "-í".
- Nouns ending in -c, -č, -k, -h, -r, -n, or -ň: Replace the ending with "-ov".
- Nouns ending in consonant clusters that don't include these letters: Replace the final consonant with "-ov".
Using the Genitive Case in Slovak
The genitive case is used to express a wide range of ideas in Slovak. Here are some examples of its use in sentences:
- To describe possession: "Auto mojej sestry" (My sister’s car)
- To describe physical characteristics: "Farba jeho očí" (The color of his eyes)
- To describe a state of being: "Nemám žiadne peňaženky" (I have no wallets)
- To indicate relationships: "Názor môjho otca" (My father's opinion)
- To express nouns of quantity: "Kilo jabĺk" (A kilo of apples)
Examples of Nouns in the Genitive Case
Here are some examples of different nouns in the genitive case, including their gender, case stem, and their respective translations:
Slovak | Pronunciation | Gender | Case Stem | English Translation |
---|---|---|---|---|
auto | "au-to" | Neuter | aut- | car |
dom | "dom" | Masculine | dom- | house |
dievča | "diev-tcha" | Feminine | dievč- | girl |
pivo | "pi-vo" | Neuter | piv- | beer |
jablko | "jabl-ko" | Neuter | jablk- | apple |
Practice Using the Genitive Case in Slovak
Now that you have learned the basics of using the genitive case in Slovak, it's time to practice. Try out the exercises below to test your knowledge:
- Translate "The color of her hair" into Slovak.
- What's the genitive plural form of "dievčatá" (girls)?
- What’s the genitive singular form of "nálepka" (sticker)?
Conclusion
The genitive case is a crucial part of Slovak grammar, and it’s essential to understand its usage if you want to become fluent in Slovak. Learning the rules for forming the genitive singular and plural is just the start: you should also practice using the genitive case in sentences and with different noun genders. Keep practicing and don't be afraid to make mistakes!
Related 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
Sources
- Slovak declension - Wikipedia
- Slovak cases | coLanguage
- 5 Most Common Slovak Sentence Structures: Essential Guide - Ling ...