Language/Standard-latvian/Grammar/The-genitive-case-and-possession
| ◀️ Latvian music and dance traditions — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — The possessive forms and characteristics ▶️ |
As a Latvian language teacher with 20 years of experience, I am excited to teach you about the genitive case and possession in Latvian sentences. This lesson is part of the "Complete 0 to A1 Standard Latvian Course" for beginner students, and will help you master this important aspect of Latvian grammar.
Consider broadening your understanding by checking out these related lessons: Questions & Give your Opinion.
What is the genitive case?
The genitive case is a grammatical case used to indicate possession or a close relationship between objects or concepts in a sentence. In Latvian, the genitive case is formed by adding the suffix "-a" or "-as" to nouns, depending on their declension and gender. For example, "mašīna" (car) becomes "mašīnas" in the genitive.
It's essential to understand the genitive in Latvian because it is commonly used in speech and writing for expressing possession, relationship, quantity, and time expression with nouns. This case helps people to clarify the scope, nature, or quality of things and activities that are being discussed.
How to form the genitive case in Latvian
The genitive case in Latvian is formed through the following steps:
1. Identify the noun you want to put in the genitive case. 2. Determine the gender and declension of the noun. 3. Add the appropriate genitive suffix "-a" or "-as".
For example, let's look at the following examples:
| Standard Latvian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| māja | /maːja/ | house |
| meitene | /meɪten̪ɛ/ | girl |
| suns | /suns/ | dog |
| zirgs | /zirks/ | horse |
To form the genitive case of these nouns:
- For "māja", add the suffix "-as": "mājas" (of the house). - For "meitene", add the suffix "-as": "meitenes" (of the girl). - For "suns", add the suffix "-a": "suna" (of the dog). - For "zirgs", add the suffix "-a": "zirga" (of the horse).
It's crucial to learn the gender of nouns in Latvian to apply the right genitive suffix. For masculine and feminine nouns, a suffix with an "s" is added at the end, while, for neuter nouns, the genitive form remains the same as the nominative.
It's also essential to memorize some exceptions to the genitive case in Latvian, which don't follow the standard "-a" or "-as" patterns. These forms include possessive pronouns, ordinal numerals, and adjectives that require a particular declension version.
The use of the genitive case in Latvian
The genitive case is commonly used in Latvian to show possession, but it is also used to indicate relationships, quality, amounts, and measurement. Here are some examples:
Possession:
- "Mana mātes dāvana" (My mother's gift): The genitive case "mātes" indicates possession in this sentence.
Relationship:
- "Kristapa tēvs" (Kristaps' father): The genitive "tēva" implies a paternal relationship.
Quality:
- "Tīrās ūdens pudeles" (Clean water bottles): The genitive "ūdens" shows the quality of the water in the bottles.
Amounts and measurement:
- "Pusotra kilogramma kafijas pupu" (One and a half kilograms of coffee beans): The genitive "kafijas" indicates the type of beans being measured.
It's important to note that, as in English, the word order in Latvian sentences is flexible. In sentences where the genitive is used to show possession, the possessed object precedes the possessor. For example: "Dzīvokļa atslēgas" (The apartment keys), where "dzīvokļa" (apartment) is in the genitive case.
Additional resources
To practice and improve your understanding of the genitive case and possession in Latvian grammar, I recommend using the following resources:
- <a href="https://www.duolingo.com/course/lv/en/Learn-Latvian-Online">Duolingo Latvian Course</a> - <a href="https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Latvian/Introduction_to_Latvian/Nouns_and_Pronouns/Genitive_case_and_possession">Latvian Wikibook: Genitive case and possession</a>
Keep in mind that learning the genitive case in Latvian is a gradual process, and it takes time and practice. But, with consistency and dedication, you can master this vital aspect of the Latvian language.
Other Lessons
- 0 to A1 Course
- Prepositions and their cases
- Adverbs of time and location
- How to Use Be
- Pronouns
- The verb to be and basic sentence structure
- Nouns and their declensions
- Future Tense
- Negation
| ◀️ Latvian music and dance traditions — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — The possessive forms and characteristics ▶️ |