The Genitive Case: Possession, Absence, and More
The Genitive case indicates possession (like 'of' or 's), absence (with без - without), origin (with из - from), or location at/having ('at' or 'have' with код). Its primary role is showing belonging or relation, or being required by certain prepositions.
Nouns: Endings vary based on gender and hard/soft stem.
- Singular Masculine/Neuter: ending -а (animate/some inanimate) / -а or -у (most inanimate). (e.g., кућа брата - brother's house, књига учитеља - teacher's book, прозор села - village window, цвет поља - field flower, шећера - sugar, снега - snow)
- Singular Feminine: ending -е or -и. (e.g., кућа сестре - sister's house, глас земље - voice of the earth)
- Plural (all genders): Various endings, often -а. (e.g., куће браће - brothers' houses, књиге учитеља - teachers' books, књиге жена - women's books, прозори села - village windows)
Adjectives:
- Singular (all genders): hard -ог(а), soft -ег(а). (e.g., кућа доброг(а) брата - house of a good brother, књига нове учитељице - book of a new teacher, прозор тихог(а) села - window of a quiet village)
- Plural (all genders): hard/soft -их. (e.g., куће добрих очева - houses of good fathers, књиге тихих учитеља - books of quiet teachers)
Prepositions: Used after без (without), из (from), код (at/by/have), and others like до (to/until), од (from).
Examples: То је посао мог оца (This is my father's work). Ја сам из града (I am from the city). Код мене је сат (I have a watch - literally "At me there is a watch"). Они иду без воде (They are going without water). Видео сам много лепих жена (I saw many beautiful women).