Verbs Taking the Genitive
Some verbs take their object in the genitive (каго? чаго?): Я баюся сабак (I am afraid of dogs), Мы чакаем аўтобуса.
How It Works
1. The pattern. Some verbs take their object in the genitive, answering каго? or чаго? (see genitive endings).
2. Fearing and shame. баяцца (be afraid of) and саромецца (be ashamed of, be shy of) always take the genitive: Я баюся сабак, Я баюся цемры, Не саромейся сваіх памылак (Do not be ashamed of your mistakes).
3. Wishing and asking. жадаць puts the person in the dative and the wish in the genitive: Жадаю табе здароўя і шчасця! Прасіць puts something abstract that you ask for in the genitive: прасіць дапамогі, прасіць прабачэння (to ask forgiveness). A concrete thing usually takes the accusative: Ён папрасіў у мяне ручку (He asked me for a pen).
4. Wanting, waiting and looking for. хацець, чакаць and шукаць take the genitive for something general, abstract or an amount: хацець міру, чакаць аўтобуса, чакаць адказу, шукаць шчасця. A specific, concrete object or person often takes the accusative: Я хачу гэтую кнігу, Я чакаю маму. See the partitive genitive for хачу вады.
5. More genitive patterns. A negated verb can also switch its object to the genitive (see genitive with negation). Formal verbs such as дасягнуць and пазбягаць belong to this group too (see formal genitive verbs).
Examples (6)
- Я баюся сабак.
I am afraid of dogs.
Сабакі → сабак in the genitive plural.
- Мы чакаем аўтобуса.
We are waiting for the bus.
Аўтобус → аўтобуса.
- Людзі хочуць міру.
People want peace.
Мір → міру: an abstract noun in the genitive.
- Жадаю табе здароўя і шчасця!
I wish you health and happiness!
The person is in the dative (табе); the wishes are in the genitive.
- Прашу прабачэння за спазненне.
I apologize for being late.
Прабачэнне → прабачэння after прасіць.
- Не саромейся сваіх памылак.
Do not be ashamed of your mistakes.
Саромецца takes the genitive: сваіх памылак.
Common Mistakes
Using the accusative after баяцца.
Я баюся цемру.Я баюся цемры.Баяцца always takes the genitive: цемры.
Using the accusative for the thing wished.
Жадаю табе шчасце!Жадаю табе шчасця!Жадаць puts the wish in the genitive: шчасця.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Verbs with the genitive need genitive endings.
Related Patterns
- Partitive Genitive
The partitive genitive, as in хачу вады.
Level 3 - Genitive with Negated Verbs
Negation can also put an object in the genitive.
Level 4 - Verbs Taking the Dative
The matching group of verbs that take the dative.
Level 3 - Verbs Taking the Instrumental
The matching group of verbs that take the instrumental.
Level 3 - дасягнуць / пазбягаць + GenitiveFormal Verbs Taking the Genitive
More formal verbs that take the genitive.
Level 5
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Verbs Taking the Genitive in Bubblegum
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