The Proper Locative Case: Location and Topic
The Locative case is used for location ('in', 'on', 'at') or the topic of discussion ('about'). It is unique because it is always used with a preposition, such as w/we (in), na (on), or o/wo (about). Upper Sorbian has singular, dual, and plural forms for the Locative case.
Nouns:
- Singular Masculine/Neuter: Ending -u. (e.g., w domu - in a house, wo mužu - about a man, w měste - in a city, na polu - in a field)
- Singular Feminine: Common ending is -e or -i. (e.g., na rěce - on a river, wo sоtre - about a sister, w zemi - in the earth)
- Dual (all genders): Ending -omaj. (e.g., wo bratomaj - about two brothers, wo sotromaj - about two sisters)
- Plural (all genders): Ending -ach. (e.g., w domach - in houses, wo mužach - about men, w městach - in cities, na rěkach - on rivers)
Adjectives:
- Singular Masculine/Neuter: hard -ym, soft -im. (e.g., w dobrym domu - in a good house, wo cyzym mužu - about a foreign man)
- Singular Feminine: hard -ej, soft -ej. (e.g., na dobrej rěce - on a good river, wo cyzej žonje - about a foreign woman)
- Dual (all genders): hard/soft -imaj. (e.g., wo dobrimaj bratomaj - about two good brothers, wo cyzimaj sotromaj - about two foreign sisters)
- Plural (all genders): hard/soft -ych/-ich. (e.g., w dobrych domach - in good houses, wo cyzich mužach - about foreign men)
Examples: Moja kniha je na stole (My book is on the table). Rěčimy wo našim domu (We are talking about our house). Woni bydla w wulkim měsće (They live in a big city). Dźěći so hraja na dworach (Children are playing in the yards).