Genitive of Quality
Put an adjective and a noun in the genitive after the noun they describe: žena nezlomného ducha (a woman of unbreakable spirit). It works like English "of" in "a man of few words".
How It Works
The pattern. A noun is followed by an adjective and a noun, both in the genitive:
- človek dobrého srdca: a good-hearted person
- muž stredného veku: a middle-aged man
- žena vysokej postavy: a tall woman
- kabát moderného strihu: a coat with a modern cut
- výrobky vysokej kvality: high-quality products
The adjective carries the description, so it is normally present. Unlike the possessive genitive (dom otca, father's house), this genitive does not name an owner; it names a quality.
After byť. The same genitive can follow byť: Bol vysokej postavy. (He was tall.) Bola mäkkého srdca. (She was soft-hearted.) Sme toho názoru, že ... (We are of the opinion that ...)
Style and alternatives. The Slovak academic morphology calls this genitive a largely bookish device, most common in literary prose. It also lives on in set phrases (ľudia dobrej vôle, people of good will) and in product descriptions. In everyday speech use an adjective or s + instrumental: dobrosrdečný človek, muž so širokými plecami. A bare genitive without an adjective (človek práce, a working man; muž odvahy, a man of courage) is rarer and usually poetic.
Examples (5)
- Je to človek dobrého srdca.
He is a person with a good heart.
Word by Word: Is it person of-good heart.
- Do kancelárie vošiel muž stredného veku.
A middle-aged man walked into the office.
Word by Word: Into office entered man of-middle age.
- Naša firma ponúka výrobky vysokej kvality.
Our company offers high-quality products.
Word by Word: Our company offers products of-high quality.
- Starý otec bol vysokej postavy.
Grandfather was tall.
Word by Word: Old father was of-tall figure.
The genitive phrase can stand after byť.
- Sme toho názoru, že treba počkať.
We are of the opinion that we should wait.
Word by Word: We-are of-that opinion, that it-is-needed to-wait.
Common Mistakes
Leaving the describing phrase in the nominative.
Do kancelárie vošiel muž stredný vek.Do kancelárie vošiel muž stredného veku.The quality phrase must be in the genitive: stredný vek → stredného veku.
Mixing the genitive with the preposition s.
Je to žena s vysokej postavy.Je to žena vysokej postavy.Choose one construction: the genitive without a preposition (vysokej postavy) or s + instrumental (s vysokou postavou).
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Genitive of Quality, learn Genitive Singular Endings. The genitive of quality builds on genitive endings.
Related Patterns
- Possession With the Genitive
The same case after a noun, but naming an owner rather than a quality.
Level 2 - Adjective Agreement
The adjective in the phrase agrees with its noun in the genitive.
Level 1 - s / so + InstrumentalWith: S and So
The everyday alternative: muž so širokými plecami instead of muž širokých pliec.
Level 1 - Compound Adjectives
A compound adjective such as dobrosrdečný often replaces the genitive phrase.
Level 5
Practice Genitive of Quality in Bubblegum
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