Genitive Singular
Most masculine and neuter nouns take -a, and most feminine nouns in -a take -e.
How It Works
The genitive answers čiji? (whose) and čega? (of what). The endings depend on gender.
| Gender | Nominative | Genitive |
|---|---|---|
| masculine | grad, Mostar | grada, Mostara |
| neuter | selo | sela |
| feminine in -a | kuća, Emina | kuće, Emine |
You use it to show possession (auto brata), after nema and nemam, after prepositions such as iz, od, do, kod and bez, and after words for amounts.
A few nouns change more. A neuter noun in -e often adds a syllable: ime gives imena and dijete gives djeteta. A noun can also lose a vowel, but that comes at Level 3. In the singular, masculine nouns for people and animals have the same form in the genitive and the accusative.
Examples (5)
- Ovo je knjiga mog prijatelja.
This is my friend's book.
Prijatelj becomes prijatelja, with -a.
- Boja kuće je žuta.
The colour of the house is yellow.
Kuća becomes kuće, with -e.
- Idem do grada.
I am going as far as the town.
Do takes the genitive: grada.
- Slika Mostara visi na zidu.
A picture of Mostar hangs on the wall.
Mostar becomes Mostara.
- Ime sela je Blagaj.
The name of the village is Blagaj.
Selo becomes sela, with -a.
Common Mistakes
Leaving the owner in the nominative.
To je knjiga prijatelj.To je knjiga prijatelja.The owner goes in the genitive.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Each case builds on the case system.
Related Patterns
- nema With the Genitive
Works together with this pattern.
Level 2 - nemam With the GenitiveNot Having Something
Works together with this pattern.
Level 2 - iz, od, do + GenitiveFrom, Out of, Until
Works together with this pattern.
Level 2 - Amounts and the Genitive
Works together with this pattern.
Level 2 - Genitive Plural
Works together with this pattern.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- Saying the DateLevel 2
- dva, tri, četiri + GenitiveTwo, Three and FourLevel 2
- kod, bez, blizu + GenitiveAt Someone's Place, Without, NearLevel 2
- pet and više + Genitive PluralFive and MoreLevel 2
- Dative SingularLevel 3
- ispred, iza, ispod, iznadIn Front, Behind, Under, AboveLevel 3
- Vanishing aLevel 3
- pored, kraj, pokrajNext toLevel 3
And 6 more in the full list.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Genitive Singular in Bubblegum
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