The Genitive Case has many different uses. The following sections describe these applications.
To express the meaning of "of"
Examples
W wyniku awarii w mieście nie było prądu przez cały dzień. - As a result of the accident, the city had no power all day.
awarii - Genitive Singular
awaria - Nominative Singular
Spotkaliśmy kozy na szczycie góry. - We encountered goats at the top of the mountain.
góry - Genitive Singular
góra - Nominative Singular
Stado krów przebiegło przez drogę. - A herd of cows crossed the road.
krów - Genitive Plural
krowy - Nominative Plural
After certain prepositions
Many prepositions require nouns to be in the Genitive Case:
bez(e)(without) blisko(near, close) dla(for (the good of)) do(to, up to, until) naokoło, wokół, dookoła((all) around) koło(around, about) obok(next to, alongside) od(e)(from, away from, than) oprócz(besides, except for) podczas(during) pośród, wśród(among) (po)mimo(despite) naprzeciw(ko)(across from, opposite) spośród(from among, out of) u(at (someone's), near) według(according to) wobec(in the face of, regarding) wskutek(as the result of) z(e)(out of, from, down from, off, because of) spod(from below, from under) sprzed(from in front) znad(from above) zza(from behind) spomiędzy(from among) zamiast(instead of)
Examples
Poproszę kawę bez mleka. - Coffee without milk, please.
mleka - Genitive Singular
mleko - Nominative Singular
Jestem już blisko twojego domu. - I am near your home now.
twojego domu - Genitive Singular
twój dom - Nominative Singular
Dostałem list od mamy. - I received a letter from my mother.
mamy - Genitive Singular
mama - Nominative Singular
For additional examples, see the article on
Genitive Case after prepositions .
After certain verbs
Many verbs require the Genitive Case. For a comprehensive list of the most important verbs, see the article on
Genitive Case after verbs .
Examples
Czy chciałbyś napić się herbaty? - Would you like to drink a cup of tea?
herbaty - Genitive Singular
herbata - Nominative Singular
Potrzebuję twojej pomocy. - I need your assistance.
twojej pomocy - Genitive Singular
twoja pomoc - Nominative Singular
After negated transitive verbs
Use the Genitive Case for nouns that complement negated transitive verbs. Use the
Accusative Case when the verb is not negated.
transitive verb - a verb that requires an object upon which to act, and without which the sentence lacks meaning.
Example
Daj mi tę książkę. - Give me this book.
In the sentence above, książka is the object upon which we act. Without it and any additional context, daj mi lacks meaning.
Many transitive verbs exist. The following table provides examples:
Examples
Example sentences:
Examples
Nie kupiłem książki, którą mi poleciłaś. - I did not buy the book you recommended to me.
książki - Genitive Singular
książka - Nominative Singular
Nie dostałem swojej przesyłki. - I have not received my parcel.
przesyłki - Genitive Singular
przesyłka - Nominative Singular
Nie widziałem rodziców od lat. - I have not seen my parents for years.
rodziców - Genitive Plural
rodzice - Nominative Plural
When expressing that something does not exist or is unavailable
The Genitive Case is used in the following constructions:
- Nie ma + Genitive Case - There is no ...
- Nie było + Genitive Case - There was no
- Nie będzie + Genitive Case - There will not be
Nie ma czasu do stracenia. - There is no time to lose.
czasu - Genitive Singular
czas - Nominative Singular
W tym roku nie będzie śniegu na święta. - This year there will be no snow for Christmas.
śniegu - Genitive Singular
śnieg - Nominative Singular
Przepraszam, nie było mnie w domu. - Sorry, I was not at home.
mnie - Genitive Case
ja - Nominative Case
After weights, measures and quantities
Poproszę kilogram ogórków. - One kilogram of cucumbers, please.
ogórków - Genitive Plural
ogórki - Nominative Plural
W nocy spadły dwa metry śniegu. - During the night, two meters of snow fell.
śniegu - Genitive Singular
śnieg - Nominative Singular
Dodaj szklankę mleka. - Add a glass of milk.
mleka - Genitive Singular
mleko - Nominative Singular
After number 5 and above
Pięć wróbli siedzi na dachu. - Five sparrows are sitting on the roof.
wróbli - Genitive Plural
wróble - Nominative Plural
Kupiliśmy dziesięć pomarańczy. - We bought ten oranges.
pomarańczy - Genitive Plural
pomarańcze - Nominative Plural
After expressions meaning some, a bit of
Potrzebuję trochę pieniędzy. - I need some money.
pieniędzy - Genitive Plural
pieniądze - Nominative Plural
Dodaj szczyptę soli. - Add a pinch of salt.
soli - Genitive Singular
sól - Nominative Singular
With certain time expressions
In the expressions below, the demonstrative pronouns and nouns are in the Genitive Case:
- Tego / tamtego dnia - On this day / on that day
- Tej / tamtej nocy - On this night / on that night
- Tego / tamtego ranka - On this morning / on that morning
- Tego / tamtego południa - On this midday / on that midday
- Tego / tamtego wieczoru - On this evening / on that evening
- Tego / tamtego popołudnia - On this afternoon / on that afternoon
