Genitive Objects in Literary Style

Level 5

In books and poetic writing, the object of a negated verb can be genitive: Viņš nezināja vārda (He did not know the name). In everyday Latvian you would say Viņš nezināja vārdu.

How It Works

1. Where the genitive is normal. Some words take a genitive in every style. Keep these as they are:

  • nav: Man nav laika. (I have no time.) See nav + genitive.
  • trūkt, pietikt: Cilvēkiem darba pietiek. (People have enough work.)
  • amounts: daudz cilvēku (many people). See genitive of quantity.

2. Where the genitive is literary. After a negated verb that normally takes an accusative direct object, writers sometimes use the genitive instead:

  • nezināt vārda (not to know the name), everyday nezināt vārdu
  • nerakstīt vēstuļu (not to write letters), everyday nerakstīt vēstules

3. Verbs of needing and wanting. Literary style also uses the genitive with vajadzēt, gribēt and kārot (to long for): Dārgakmeņu man nevajag (I do not need jewels). This sounds old-fashioned or poetic, and journalists use it for effect.

4. Nekā. The genitive nekā of nekas (nothing) is still common after a negated verb in careful speech: Es negribu teikt nekā slikta (I don't want to say anything bad). In everyday speech you will also hear neko sliktu.

The genitive object is also part of the older style of folk songs.

Examples (5)

  1. Viņš nezināja vārda.

    He did not know the name.

    Word by Word: He not-knew name(gen).

    Literary. In everyday speech: Viņš nezināja vārdu.

  2. Dārgakmeņu man nevajag.

    I do not need jewels.

    Word by Word: Jewels(gen) to-me not-need.

  3. Es negribu teikt nekā slikta.

    I don't want to say anything bad.

    Word by Word: I not-want to-say nothing(gen) bad(gen).

  4. Cilvēkiem darba pietiek.

    People have enough work.

    Word by Word: To-people work(gen) suffices.

    With pietikt, the genitive is normal in every style.

  5. Viņa nerakstīja vēstuļu.

    She did not write letters.

    Word by Word: She not-wrote letters(gen).

    Literary. In everyday speech: Viņa nerakstīja vēstules.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a genitive object after a verb that is not negated.

    Es zinu vārda.
    Es zinu vārdu.

    The literary genitive goes with a negated verb. A plain positive verb like zinu takes the accusative.

  • Treating the genitive after nav as optional.

    Man nav laiku.
    Man nav laika.

    After nav meaning there is no or I have no, the genitive is required in every style, not just in literature.

How It Connects

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

Genitive Objects in Literary StyleLevel 5

Learn This First

Literary style can use genitive objects.