The Genitive Case
The case for of and belonging to.
How It Works
| Noun | Nominative | Genitive | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| puella | puella | puellae | of the girl |
| amicus | amicus | amici | of the friend |
| verbum | verbum | verbi | of the word |
The genitive usually stands after the noun it belongs to: villa Iuliae. Latin has no word for the English of or the ending s.
You have already met genitives in prayers: Patris, Filii, Dei and Domini.
The genitive can also stand before its noun for emphasis, as in Marci liber. The meaning is the same.
In a dictionary the genitive is the second form listed, which is how you know the declension: puella, puellae or amicus, amici.
Examples (5)
- Liber Marci est bonus.
Marcus's book is good.
Marci is the genitive of Marcus.
- Villa Iuliae est magna.
Iulia's house is big.
Iuliae is the genitive of Iulia.
- Amicus puellae in horto est.
The girl's friend is in the garden.
Puellae follows amicus.
- Nomen amici est Marcus.
The friend's name is Marcus.
Amici is the genitive of amicus.
- Mater Dei est sancta.
The mother of God is holy.
Dei is the genitive of Deus.
Common Mistakes
Leaving the owner in the nominative.
Liber Marcus est bonus.Liber Marci est bonus.Marcus is the nominative. The owner of the book needs the genitive Marci.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The genitive is the next case after the ones you know, so the accusative comes first.
Related Patterns
- Genitive Singular: -ae and -iGenitive Endings -ae and -i
The singular endings in detail.
Level 2 - Genitive Plural: -arum and -orum
The plural endings.
Level 2 - The Love of the Father
Other jobs of the genitive at Level 5.
Level 5 - Part of a Whole: satis pecuniaeA Part of: Satis Pecuniae
The genitive that means some of.
Level 4
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice The Genitive Case in Bubblegum
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