Genitive Case for Possession ('of', 's) (Čiji? Koga? Čega?)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The Genitive case shows possession and absence; just add -a for masculine/neuter nouns or -e for feminine nouns.
- Use for possession: 'Knjiga Marka' (Marko's book).
- Use for absence: 'Nemam vode' (I have no water).
- Use after numbers: 'Pet stolova' (Five tables).
Genitive Case Endings
| Gender | Singular Ending | Example (Nom -> Gen) |
|---|---|---|
|
Masculine
|
-a
|
Pas -> Psa
|
|
Neuter
|
-a
|
Selo -> Sela
|
|
Feminine
|
-e
|
Knjiga -> Knjige
|
Meanings
The Genitive case is the most versatile case in Croatian, primarily used to express possession, origin, and the absence of something.
Possession
Indicates ownership.
“Ovo je torba Ane.”
“To je pas moga brata.”
Absence/Negation
Used with the verb 'nemati' (to not have).
“Nemam novca.”
“Nema kruha.”
Quantification
Used after numbers 2, 3, 4 and higher.
“Dva sata.”
“Tri prijatelja.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Noun + Genitive
|
Knjiga Marka
|
|
Negative
|
Nemam + Genitive
|
Nemam novca
|
|
Question
|
Imate li + Genitive?
|
Imate li vremena?
|
|
Quantification
|
Number + Genitive
|
Pet stolova
|
|
Preposition
|
Bez + Genitive
|
Bez šećera
|
|
Origin
|
Iz + Genitive
|
Iz Hrvatske
|
Espectro de formalidade
Ne posjedujem financijska sredstva. (Financial status)
Nemam novca. (Financial status)
Nemam para. (Financial status)
Švorc sam. (Financial status)
Genitive Functions
Possession
- Markova knjiga Marko's book
Absence
- Nema vode No water
Quantity
- Pet jabuka Five apples
Exemplos por nível
Ovo je auto Marka.
This is Marko's car.
Nemam vode.
I don't have water.
Knjiga Ane je ovdje.
Ana's book is here.
Nema kruha.
There is no bread.
Bez šećera, molim.
Without sugar, please.
Imam tri prijatelja.
I have three friends.
Dolazim iz Hrvatske.
I come from Croatia.
To je kuća mojih roditelja.
That is my parents' house.
Popio sam čašu mlijeka.
I drank a glass of milk.
Nije bilo nikoga kod kuće.
There was nobody at home.
Boja ovoga zida je plava.
The color of this wall is blue.
Sredinom tjedna idem u grad.
In the middle of the week, I go to town.
Nedostaje mi miris mora.
I miss the scent of the sea.
Odluka suda bila je konačna.
The court's decision was final.
Pored stola stoji stolica.
Next to the table stands a chair.
Nema sumnje u njegov uspjeh.
There is no doubt in his success.
Čovjeka od riječi svi poštuju.
Everyone respects a man of his word.
Usprkos nedostatka vremena, uspjeli smo.
Despite the lack of time, we succeeded.
Sjaj zvijezda obasjavao je put.
The glow of the stars illuminated the path.
Nije bilo traga od te nesreće.
There was no trace of that accident.
Bijaše to doba velikih promjena.
That was an era of great changes.
Niti trunke sumnje ne ostade u njemu.
Not a shred of doubt remained in him.
Pravila igre nalažu strogu disciplinu.
The rules of the game dictate strict discipline.
Sve je to dio procesa sazrijevanja.
All of that is part of the maturation process.
Fácil de confundir
Learners use the base form (Nominative) for everything.
Both can end in -a.
Learners use singular endings for plural.
Erros comuns
Nemam kava
Nemam kave
To je auto Marko
To je auto Marka
Bez šećer
Bez šećera
Imam dva stol
Imam dva stola
Iz Hrvatska
Iz Hrvatske
Nema ljudi
Nema čovjeka
Pored stol
Pored stola
Čaša voda
Čaša vode
Nije bilo nitko
Nije bilo nikoga
Boja zid
Boja zida
Usprkos nedostatak
Usprkos nedostatka
Sjaj zvijezde
Sjaj zvijezda
Nema traga od nesreća
Nema traga od nesreće
Padrões de frases
Nemam ___.
Ovo je ___ ___.
Bez ___ je kava.
Dolazim iz ___.
Real World Usage
Jedna kava bez šećera.
Nemam para za izlazak.
Imam puno iskustva.
Dolazim iz Zagreba.
Bez luka, molim.
Fotografija moga grada.
Listen for the -a
Don't forget the verb
Practice with names
Use it in cafes
Smart Tips
Always add -a or -e to the drink name.
Use the Genitive for possession.
Always check the noun ending.
Remember 2, 3, 4 trigger Genitive singular.
Pronúncia
Genitive endings
The -a and -e endings are short and unstressed.
Falling intonation
Nemam novca. ↓
Statements of absence are usually flat and final.
Memorize
Mnemônico
Genitive is the 'G' for 'Gone' (absence) and 'Giving' (possession).
Associação visual
Imagine a ghost (Genitive) taking things away (absence) or holding things (possession).
Rhyme
When you have none, or own a thing, add an 'a' to the end of the string.
Story
Marko has no money. He looks at his empty wallet. He says 'Nemam novca'. He looks at his friend's car and says 'Ovo je auto moga prijatelja'.
Word Web
Desafio
Look around your room and name 5 things you don't have using 'Nemam...'.
Notas culturais
Genitive is used heavily in formal addresses and official documents.
Similar usage, but often uses 'para' instead of 'novac' for money.
Usage is nearly identical to Croatian.
The Genitive case descends from Proto-Slavic, where it functioned to denote the source or origin of an action.
Iniciadores de conversa
Što nemaš kod kuće?
Čija je ovo torba?
Koliko prijatelja imaš?
Iz kojeg grada dolaziš?
Temas para diário
Erros comuns
Test Yourself
Nemam ___ (voda).
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Bez šećer, molim.
Imam auto.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
prijatelja / tri / imam
Which is Genitive?
A: Imate li vode? B: ___.
Score: /8
Exercicios praticos
8 exercisesNemam ___ (voda).
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Bez šećer, molim.
Imam auto.
Match the meaning.
prijatelja / tri / imam
Which is Genitive?
A: Imate li vode? B: ___.
Score: /8
Perguntas frequentes (8)
It depends on the gender. Masculine/Neuter take -a, Feminine takes -e.
No, only for possession, absence, and specific prepositions.
Don't worry! People will understand you. Just try to add an -a sound.
Yes, always.
You can, but it will sound incorrect to a native speaker.
Yes, some nouns have irregular plural Genitive endings.
Mostly, yes. The core rules are standard.
Use it every time you order coffee or talk about your family.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Genitiv
German uses articles (des/der) to mark Genitive; Croatian changes the noun ending.
de + noun
French is analytic (prepositions); Croatian is synthetic (case endings).
de + noun
Spanish uses prepositions; Croatian uses inflections.
no particle
Japanese is agglutinative; Croatian is fusional.
Idafa construction
Arabic uses word order and state; Croatian uses case endings.
de particle
Chinese has no case system; Croatian is highly inflected.
