Genitive Singular: Masculine and Neuter
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The Genitive case shows possession or origin; for masculine and neuter nouns, add -a or -u to the end.
- Most masculine animate nouns add -a: 'pán' becomes 'pána'.
- Most masculine inanimate nouns add -u: 'hrad' becomes 'hradu'.
- Neuter nouns ending in -o change to -a: 'auto' becomes 'auta'.
Genitive Singular Endings
| Gender | Nominative | Genitive | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Masculine Animate
|
pes
|
psa
|
psa
|
|
Masculine Inanimate
|
hrad
|
hradu
|
hradu
|
|
Neuter
|
město
|
města
|
města
|
|
Neuter
|
auto
|
auta
|
auta
|
Meanings
The Genitive case is primarily used to express possession, origin, or the absence of something.
Possession
Indicating who owns an object.
“Kniha mého bratra.”
“Dům mého dědečka.”
Quantification
Used after numbers or words of quantity.
“Pět litrů mléka.”
“Kousek chleba.”
Negation
Used after negated verbs.
“Nemám čas.”
“Nechci žádného psa.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Noun + -a/-u
|
Dům otce
|
|
Negative
|
Nemám + Noun(-a/-u)
|
Nemám auta
|
|
Question
|
Je to + Noun(-a/-u)?
|
Je to auto bratra?
|
|
Quantification
|
Číslo + Noun(-a/-u)
|
Pět litrů mléka
|
|
Preposition
|
U/Bez/Od + Noun(-a/-u)
|
U domu
|
طيف الرسمية
Nedisponuji vozidlem. (Daily life)
Nemám auto. (Daily life)
Nemám auto. (Daily life)
Nemám káru. (Daily life)
Genitive Case Map
Functions
- Possession Ownership
- Negation Not having
- Quantity How much
أمثلة حسب المستوى
To je dům mého otce.
This is my father's house.
Nemám čas.
I don't have time.
Kde je auto mého bratra?
Where is my brother's car?
Chci šálek čaje.
I want a cup of tea.
Pět litrů mléka, prosím.
Five liters of milk, please.
Bez mého psa nejdu.
I'm not going without my dog.
Není tu žádného problému.
There is no problem here.
To je výsledek mého projektu.
That is the result of my project.
Potřebuji pomoc mého přítele.
I need my friend's help.
Bojím se velkého pavouka.
I am afraid of the big spider.
U mého domu je park.
There is a park by my house.
Od mého učitele vím vše.
I know everything from my teacher.
Nedostatek času je velký problém.
Lack of time is a big problem.
Využití tohoto systému je snadné.
The use of this system is easy.
Hledám klíče od mého auta.
I am looking for my car keys.
Žádného z nich neznám.
I don't know any of them.
Důkaz jeho neviny byl nalezen.
Proof of his innocence was found.
V rámci našeho výzkumu jsme zjistili...
Within the scope of our research, we found...
Byl to projev jeho odvahy.
It was a display of his courage.
Nedostalo se mi žádné odpovědi.
I received no answer.
Z hlediska lingvistiky je to zajímavé.
From a linguistic point of view, it is interesting.
Nebyl to výtvor lidské ruky.
It was not a creation of human hand.
Vzhledem k mému věku to chápu.
Given my age, I understand it.
Nebylo slyšet ani hlásku.
Not a sound could be heard.
سهل الخلط
Both cases can look similar, but Accusative is for direct objects of actions, while Genitive is for possession/negation.
Learners mix up -a and -u endings.
Neuter nouns ending in -o change to -a in Genitive.
أخطاء شائعة
Nemám auto.
Nemám auta.
Kniha pes.
Kniha psa.
Pět litr mléko.
Pět litrů mléka.
U dům.
U domu.
Bez bratr.
Bez bratra.
To je auto otce.
To je auto otce (correct, but check gender).
Chci šálek čaj.
Chci šálek čaje.
Bojím se pavouk.
Bojím se pavouka.
Nedostatek čas.
Nedostatek času.
Od učitel.
Od učitele.
V rámci výzkum.
V rámci výzkumu.
Důkaz nevina.
Důkaz neviny.
Nedostalo se mi odpověď.
Nedostalo se mi odpovědi.
أنماط الجُمل
Nemám ___.
To je dům ___.
Potřebuji ___ mléka.
Bez ___ nejdu.
Real World Usage
Prosím šálek kávy.
Nemám čas.
Výsledek projektu je dobrý.
Kde je dům mého přítele?
Fotka mého psa.
Pět litrů vody.
Animate vs Inanimate
Negation
Quantities
Politeness
Smart Tips
Immediately switch to Genitive.
Add -a.
Add -u.
Use Genitive.
النطق
Vowel lengthening
Sometimes the final vowel is lengthened in the Genitive.
Statement
To je dům mého otce. ↘
Falling intonation for facts.
احفظها
وسيلة تذكّر
Genitive is the 'A-U' case: add -a for the living, -u for the things.
ربط بصري
Imagine a dog (pes) wearing a collar with an 'A' on it, and a castle (hrad) with a large 'U' carved into the gate.
Rhyme
For the dog, add an A, for the castle, a U, it's the Genitive way, for me and for you.
Story
My brother (bratr) has a dog (pes). I don't have the dog (psa). I go to the castle (hrad) without the dog (psa).
Word Web
تحدٍّ
Write 5 sentences about things you do not have in your room using the Genitive case.
ملاحظات ثقافية
The Genitive is used in formal address and professional settings to show respect.
The Genitive case in Slavic languages evolved from the Proto-Indo-European ablative and genitive cases.
بدايات محادثة
Co nemáš v lednici?
Čí je to auto?
Kolik litrů mléka potřebuješ?
Bojíš se něčeho?
مواضيع للكتابة اليومية
أخطاء شائعة
Test Yourself
Nemám ___ (pes).
To je auto ___ (bratr).
Find and fix the mistake:
Nemám auto.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
I don't have time.
Answer starts with: Nem...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
___ (bez) mého psa.
Potřebuji pomoc ___ (otec).
Score: /8
تمارين تطبيقية
8 exercisesNemám ___ (pes).
To je auto ___ (bratr).
Find and fix the mistake:
Nemám auto.
mléka / litr / pět / prosím
I don't have time.
pes -> ?, hrad -> ?
___ (bez) mého psa.
Potřebuji pomoc ___ (otec).
Score: /8
الأسئلة الشائعة (8)
Because it is a masculine animate noun, which takes the -a ending in the Genitive.
Use -u for masculine inanimate nouns (things).
No, only when expressing possession, quantity, or after specific prepositions/negation.
Neuter nouns ending in -o change to -a.
No, that would be grammatically incorrect and sound unnatural.
Yes, some nouns have irregular endings, but the -a/-u rule covers most.
Focus on 'Nemám...' sentences and quantities.
Yes, but that is a different rule (Genitive Plural).
Scaffolded Practice
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2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
De + Noun
Czech changes the word; Spanish adds a word.
De + Noun
Czech is inflectional; French is analytical.
Genitiv
German uses articles to show case; Czech changes the noun.
No particle
Japanese is agglutinative; Czech is fusional.
Idafa construction
Arabic uses word order and state; Czech uses inflection.
De particle
Chinese has no case system.
