Verbal Nouns With a Genitive Object

Level 5

A verbal noun takes its direct object in the genitive: čítať knihy → čítanie kníh (reading books), riešiť problém → riešenie problému (solving the problem), znížiť dane → zníženie daní (the lowering of taxes).

How It Works

From verb to noun. Verbal nouns in -nie and -tie name an action: čítať → čítanie, riešiť → riešenie, piť → pitie. A noun cannot take an accusative object, so the object moves into the genitive:

  • čítam knihy → čítanie kníh
  • riešime problém → riešenie problému
  • znížili dane → zníženie daní
  • učím sa jazyky → učenie sa jazykov (a reflexive verb keeps sa)

Other objects stay. Only the accusative changes. A dative, instrumental or prepositional object keeps its form: pomáhanie chorým, čakanie na výsledky, rozhodovanie o budúcnosti.

The doer. With intransitive verbs the doer also goes into the genitive: vlak prichádza → príchod vlaku, vtáky spievajú → spev vtákov. If there is already an object, the doer goes into the instrumental: schválenie zákona parlamentom (see the doer in the instrumental).

Watch the ambiguity. Hľadanie matky can mean "looking for the mother" or "the mother's search". Context decides; when it cannot, use a verb instead.

Where you meet it. These phrases are typical of news, instructions and official texts, where they form the nominal style. They are also common in everyday set phrases: Čítanie kníh ma baví.

Examples (6)

  1. Čítanie kníh ma veľmi baví.

    I really enjoy reading books.

    Word by Word: Reading of-books me very amuses.

  2. Riešenie problému trvalo celý týždeň.

    Solving the problem took a whole week.

    Word by Word: Solving of-problem lasted whole week.

  3. Vláda sľúbila zníženie daní.

    The government promised to lower taxes.

    Word by Word: Government promised lowering of-taxes.

  4. Učenie sa cudzích jazykov si vyžaduje čas.

    Learning foreign languages takes time.

    Word by Word: Learning oneself of-foreign languages itself requires time.

    The reflexive sa stays with the verbal noun.

  5. Pomáhanie druhým ho napĺňa.

    Helping others fulfills him.

    Word by Word: Helping to-others him fills.

    Pomáhať takes the dative, so the dative stays.

  6. Príchod vlaku sa oneskorí.

    The arrival of the train will be delayed.

    Word by Word: Arrival of-train itself will-delay.

Common Mistakes

  • Keeping the accusative after a verbal noun.

    Čítanie knihy je zábava, ale písanie list je ťažké.
    Čítanie knihy je zábava, ale písanie listu je ťažké.

    A verbal noun takes its direct object in the genitive: písať list → písanie listu.

  • Turning a dative object into a genitive.

    Pomáhanie chorých je jeho práca.
    Pomáhanie chorým je jeho práca.

    Pomáhať takes the dative, and the verbal noun keeps it: pomáhanie chorým. Only accusative objects become genitives.

How It Connects

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

Verbal Nouns With a Genitive ObjectLevel 5

Learn This First

Before Verbal Nouns With a Genitive Object, learn Verbal Nouns and Genitive Singular Endings. The verbal noun is formed as taught earlier. Its object is in the genitive.