The Six Cases

Level 1

Slovak nouns change their endings to show their role in a sentence. There are six cases, and each one has question words that help you find it.

How It Works

In Slovak, the ending of a noun shows its job in the sentence. There are six cases. Each case has question words that help you choose the right form:

  • Nominatív (kto? čo?): the subject and the dictionary form. Peter pracuje.
  • Genitív (koho? čoho?): from, of, and after prepositions like z, do and od. List od Petra.
  • Datív (komu? čomu?): to or for someone. Dám to Petrovi.
  • Akuzatív (koho? čo?): the direct object. Vidím Petra.
  • Lokál (o kom? o čom?): always after a preposition, such as v, na, o or pri. Hovoríme o Petrovi.
  • Inštrumentál (s kým? s čím?): with someone, or by what means. Idem s Petrom.

Two cases can share a form. For Peter, the genitive and accusative are both Petra, and the dative and locative are both Petrovi. The question word or the preposition tells you which case you have.

Adjectives and pronouns change along with the noun: môj nový kamarát (my new friend) becomes s mojím novým kamarátom (with my new friend).

Older grammar books also list a vocative case for calling someone. Today it survives only in a few set words, like pane (sir), bože (God) and človeče (man), so modern Slovak grammar counts six cases.

Examples (6)

  1. Toto je Peter.

    This is Peter.

    Nominative: the dictionary form. It answers kto?

  2. Mám list od Petra.

    I have a letter from Peter.

    Genitive after od. It answers od koho?

  3. Dám to Petrovi.

    I will give it to Peter.

    Dative for the person who receives something. It answers komu?

  4. Vidím Petra.

    I see Peter.

    Accusative for the direct object. It answers koho?

  5. Hovoríme o Petrovi.

    We are talking about Peter.

    Locative after o. It answers o kom?

  6. Idem do kina s Petrom.

    I am going to the cinema with Peter.

    Instrumental after s. It answers s kým?

Common Mistakes

  • Keeping the dictionary form after a preposition.

    Idem do kina s Peter.
    Idem do kina s Petrom.

    The preposition s takes the instrumental, so Peter becomes Petrom.

  • Using the dictionary form for the person who receives something.

    Dám to Peter.
    Dám to Petrovi.

    The receiver answers komu?, so it goes in the dative: Petrovi.

How It Connects

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The Six CasesLevel 1

Learn This First

Before The Six Cases, learn Noun Gender. Case endings differ by gender.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.