Lesson 13.Genitive Case

Lesson Goals

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Understand the functions of the Genitive case in Serbian
• Recognize genitive endings for singular and plural nouns
• Use genitive for possession, quantities, and absence
• Combine genitive with common prepositions

1. Function of the Genitive

The genitive case is used for:

1. Possession — showing that something belongs to someone
2. Quantity / partitive — indicating “of” something
3. Absence / lack — expressing something missing
4. After many prepositions

Questions: koga? (of whom?) / čega? (of what?)

Examples:

• Ovo je knjiga Ane. — This is Ana’s book. (possession)
• Čaša mleka. — A glass of milk. (quantity)
• Nema vremena. — There is no time. (absence)

2. Genitive Endings – Singular

3. Genitive Endings – Plural

4. Common Prepositions with Genitive

• od (from, of) — Dolazim od prijatelja. (I’m coming from a friend’s place.)
• iz (from, out of) — Dolazim iz škole. (I’m coming from school.)
• do (to, until, up to) — Idem do grada. (I’m going to the city.)
• bez (without) — Kafa bez mleka. (Coffee without milk.)
• pored (next to, beside) — Stojim pored kuće. (I’m standing next to the house.)

5. Genitive in Negative Sentences

When the object of a verb is indefinite and the sentence is negative, Serbian often uses the genitive instead of the accusative.

Examples:

• Vidim čoveka. (I see the man.) — accusative
• Ne vidim čoveka. (I don’t see the man.) — genitive

6. Mini Dialogue (Grammar Focus)

Ana: Imaš li vremena?

(Do you have time?)

Marko: Nažalost, nemam vremena.

(Unfortunately, I don’t have time.)

Ana: Bez tebe neće biti zabavno.

(Without you it won’t be fun.)

7. Vocabulary for This Lesson

8. Practice

A. Change to genitive form:

1. Marko → ________
2. Ana → ________
3. selo (plural) → ________

B. Translate:

4. Coffee without sugar.

5. I’m coming from the city.