Language/Kazakh/Grammar/Genitive-Case

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Kazakh Grammar → Kazakh Cases → Genitive Case

The genitive case is one of the six cases in the Kazakh language. In this lesson, we will learn what the genitive case is, how it is formed, and how it is used with nouns and adjectives.

Finish this lesson and explore these related pages: Plurals & Give your Opinion.

What is the Genitive Case?

The genitive case is used to show possession or ownership, and to describe the quantity, material, or origin of a noun.

How to Form the Genitive Case

In Kazakh, to form the genitive case, we usually add the suffix "-ның" (-nıñ) to the end of the noun. However, if a noun ends with a vowel, we add "-ның" (-nıñ) after an apostrophe (') to prevent vowel harmony. If the noun ends with the vowel "-ы" (-ı) or "-у" (-u), we add the suffix "-ңыз" (-ñız) instead.

Examples:

Kazakh	Pronunciation	English
бала (child)	bala	child
баланың (child's)	bala-nıñ	child's
кітап (book)	kitap	book
кітаптың (book's)	kitap-tıñ	book's
ой (moon)	oy	moon
ойдың (moon's)	oy-dıñ	moon's
қыз (girl)	qız	girl
қыздың (girl's)	qız-dıñ	girl's

How to Use the Genitive Case with Nouns

1. Possession

To show that something belongs to someone or something, we use the genitive case with the possessor noun. The possessor noun is followed by the noun in the genitive case.

Examples:

• менің қаламым (my pen)
• сабаққа мұғалімның кітабы (the teacher's book for the lesson)
• Ақбота апарылы тілектерімен қолдануда (to use Akbota's carried luggage)
• тез оңдаған жігіттің айнасы (the mirror of the quick moving boy)

2. Quantity

To show how much of something there is, we use the genitive case with numbers or words indicating quantity.

Examples:

• екі кітаптың бірі (one of the two books)
• сәуірдің алты есімі (the sixth name of April)
• ең аса шаштықтардың бірі (one of the cheapest watches)
• стаильдердің басқа-басқа да басылдысы (the different printings of styles)

3. Material

To describe what something is made of, we use the genitive case with the material noun.

Examples:

• жүйрікке құқтар мен жұлдыздардың көбісі кібір жерлерінде маңызды (the majority of stones on some planets are made of rock and stars)
• жемделіс қуатты материалдардың бірі (one of the powerful materials in electricity)
• бүркін жаялғанжақтың самық онығы (the gossamer web of a densely overcast fence)
• көмірқұммен бөледі (it is broken into coal dust)

4. Origin

To show where something comes from, we use the genitive case with the origin or source noun.

Examples:

• Ақжайық көзінде оңайған мұнаралардың бірі (one of the stunning minarets seen in Akzhaiyk)
• Әулетінің қай бағанадан тандап алдыңыз? (Where did you choose the fur from?)
• Ақбайға қайтыс қойылған күн (the shining day when they leave the seaside)
• Асқарларды қаржы берсін деп, соқтыр бар жолы (The frozen road on which they drive Askars to give them the money)

How to Use the Genitive Case with Adjectives

In Kazakh grammar, an adjective may appear in the genitive form when it refers to a noun or pronoun that is also in the genitive form. The genitive adjective agrees with the gender and number of the noun or pronoun it modifies.

Examples:

• Ақботаштық үнемін (her melancholic song)
• ең кішкене ақаптың бірінен (one of the smallest lakes)
• Марияның гүлзары (Maria's rose garden)
• жию ойыншылардың ең алады (the best of the living players)

Summary

In this lesson, we learned that the genitive case is used to show possession or ownership, and to describe the quantity, material, or origin of a noun. We also learned how to form the genitive case, and how to use it with nouns and adjectives.

Sources

• A Grammar of Kazakh Zura Dotton, Ph.D John Doyle Wagner
• Kazakh
• Kazakh Grammar - with Affix List
• Kazakh language - Wikipedia

Table of Contents - Kazakh Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Kazakh Pronunciation

• Consonants
• Vowels
• Stress and Intonation

  ---

Greetings and Basic Expressions

• Meeting and Greeting
• Expressions for Asking Questions
• Numbers and Counting

  ---

Kazakh Cases

• Nominative Case
• Accusative Case
• Genitive Case
• Dative Case
• Locative Case
• Instrumental Case

  ---

Food and Drink

• Basic Food Vocabulary
• Restaurant Phrases
• Cooking Verbs

  ---

Verbs

• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense
• Imperative Mood

  ---

Traditions and Customs

• Wedding Celebrations
• Festivals and Holidays
• Music and Dance
• Cuisine and Culinary Art

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Basic Family Vocabulary
• Romantic Relationships
• Friendship and Socializing

  ---

Adjectives

• Attributive and Predicative Adjectives
• Comparative and Superlative Degrees
• Possessive Adjectives

  ---

Traveling and Directions

• Transportation Vocabulary
• Asking for and Giving Directions
• Accommodation and Lodging

  ---

Pronouns

• Personal Pronouns
• Demonstrative Pronouns

  ---

Shopping and Consumerism

• Basic Shopping Vocabulary
• Sizes and Measurements
• Money and Payments

  ---

Art and Literature

• Famous Writers and Poets
• Folk Tales and Legends
• Visual Arts and Crafts

  ---

Adverbs

• General Adverbs
• Temporal Adverbs
• Modal Adverbs

  ---

Health and Medical Emergencies

• Basic Medical Vocabulary
• Expressions for Medical Emergencies

  ---

Sports and Recreation

• Popular Sports in Kazakhstan
• Traditional Games and Pastimes
• Entertainment and Nightlife

  ---

Prepositions and Postpositions

• Simple Prepositions
• Compound Prepositions and Postpositions

  ---

Nature and Environment

• Basic Nature Vocabulary
• Weather Expressions
• Ecology and Conservation Terms

Other Lessons

• Accusative Case
• Past Tense (ӨТКЕН ШАҚ)
• Nominative Case
• Personal Pronouns
• Dative Case
• Stress and Intonation
• Present Tense
• Conditional Mood
• How to Use Be
• Temporal Adverbs

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