Amir's Book: -ov Adjectives

Amir's Book

Level 3

Name + -ov / -ev / -in = a possessive adjective.

How It Works

Bosnian has a short way to use "Amir's". Instead of a genitive, you can add a suffix to the name. The result is an adjective, so it changes with the gender of the thing owned.

Namemasculinefeminineneuter
AmirAmirov telefonAmirova knjigaAmirovo pismo
EminaEminin telefonEminina torbaEminino pismo

Which suffix?

  • -ov after most masculine names that end in a consonant: Hasanov, Harisov.
  • -ev after soft consonants, as in the surname Hodžić, Hodžićev.
  • -in after names that end in -a: Lejlin, Selmin, Nikolin.

For the plural, add the usual adjective ending: Amirovi prijatelji. Knjiga od Amira is also normal in casual speech. It is used for one specific owner, not for a group or a thing.

Examples (5)

  1. Amirova knjiga je na stolu.

    Amir's book is on the table.

    Amirova is feminine to match knjiga.

  2. Eminina torba je nova.

    Emina's bag is new.

    Emina becomes Eminin; the feminine is Eminina.

  3. Hasanov telefon zvoni.

    Hasan's phone is ringing.

    Hasanov is masculine.

  4. Lejlino pismo je dugo.

    Lejla's letter is long.

    Lejlino is neuter.

  5. Adnanovi prijatelji dolaze večeras.

    Adnan's friends are coming tonight.

    The plural ends in -ovi.

Common Mistakes

  • Not matching the gender.

    Amirov knjiga.
    Amirova knjiga.

    The possessive adjective agrees with the noun it describes, not with the owner.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Amir's Book: -ov AdjectivesLevel 3Amir's Book

Learn This First

Possessive adjectives are formed from names.