A Comprehensive Guide to the Genitive Case in Polish

If you’re serious about mastering Polish, understanding the genitive case (dopełniacz) is a must. This case is widely used for expressing possession, negation, quantities, and more. In this guide, we’ll break down the genitive case, explain its various uses, and provide numerous examples to help you fully grasp this essential grammar point.

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What is the Genitive Case in Polish?

The genitive case in Polish typically answers the questions “Whose?” or “Of what?” It is also frequently used after certain prepositions and in negative sentences. While it may seem complicated at first, with a bit of practice, you’ll start recognizing when and how to use it naturally.

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When to Use the Genitive Case in Polish

The genitive case serves multiple functions in Polish, from expressing possession to negation and usage with prepositions. Here’s a breakdown of its most common uses.

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1. Expressing Possession

One of the primary uses of the genitive case is to indicate possession, similar to how we use “of” or the apostrophe ‘s in English.

• To jest samochód mojego brata. (This is my brother’s car.)
• Klucz do domu jest na stole. (The key to the house is on the table.)
• To jest pies mojej koleżanki. (This is my friend’s dog.)

In each of these examples, the genitive is used to show ownership or possession.

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2. After Certain Prepositions

Many prepositions in Polish require the genitive case. Here are some of the most common ones:

• bez (without)
• dla (for)
• do (to, into)
• od (from)
• z (from, out of)

Examples:

• Nie mogę żyć bez ciebie. (I can’t live without you.)
• Kupiłem prezent dla mamy. (I bought a gift for mom.)
• Idziemy do sklepu. (We are going to the store.)

These prepositions always trigger the genitive case, so it’s helpful to memorize them.

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3. In Negative Sentences

In Polish, when you negate a verb, the direct object of the sentence typically takes the genitive case instead of the accusative.

• Mam pieniądze. (I have money.) → Nie mam pieniędzy. (I don’t have money.)
• Widzę kota. (I see a cat.) → Nie widzę kota. (I don’t see a cat.)
• Lubię tę książkę. (I like this book.) → Nie lubię tej książki. (I don’t like this book.)

In these examples, the genitive case is used in the negative form to replace the accusative.

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4. Expressing Quantity or Amount

When discussing quantities, amounts, or measurements, Polish uses the genitive case after numbers (except for numbers ending in 1, such as 21, 31, etc.).

• Mam pięć jabłek. (I have five apples.)
• Widziałem trzy filmy. (I saw three movies.)
• Chcę trochę wody. (I want some water.)

In these examples, the noun takes the genitive case after the number to indicate quantity.

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Genitive Case in Polish: Examples by Gender

Like most grammatical rules in Polish, the endings for nouns in the genitive case vary based on the gender (masculine, feminine, neuter) and number (singular, plural).

Masculine Nouns in the Genitive Case

For masculine nouns, the genitive case usually ends in -a (for animate nouns) or -u (for inanimate nouns).

• Widzę samochód brata. (I see my brother’s car.)
• Szukam domu. (I am looking for the house.)
• Kupiłem kota kolegi. (I bought my friend’s cat.)

Feminine Nouns in the Genitive Case

For feminine nouns, the ending is typically -y or -i.

• To jest książka siostry. (This is my sister’s book.)
• Nie widzę drogi. (I don’t see the road.)
• Szukam kawy. (I am looking for coffee.)

Neuter Nouns in the Genitive Case

For neuter nouns, the genitive case typically ends in -a.

• Mam dużo mleka. (I have a lot of milk.)
• Potrzebuję krzesła. (I need a chair.)
• Nie ma okna w tym pokoju. (There’s no window in this room.)

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Plural Forms in the Genitive Case

The genitive case also changes for plural nouns, and the endings depend on whether the noun is masculine, feminine, or neuter.

Masculine Plural Nouns

For masculine plural nouns, the genitive ending is usually -ów or -i.

• Nie mam kluczy. (I don’t have the keys.)
• Szukam przyjaciół. (I’m looking for my friends.)
• Kupiłem kilka samochodów. (I bought a few cars.)

Feminine Plural Nouns

For feminine plural nouns, the genitive plural usually ends in -y or -i.

• Nie ma książek na stole. (There are no books on the table.)
• Potrzebuję róż. (I need roses.)

Neuter Plural Nouns

For neuter plural nouns, the genitive case ends in –.

• Mam dużo jabłek. (I have a lot of apples.)
• Brakuje kilku krzeseł. (A few chairs are missing.)

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Key Tips for Using the Genitive Case in Polish

1. Learn prepositions that always take the genitive case. Words like bez (without), dla (for), and od (from) will always trigger the genitive.
2. Practice negating sentences. Whenever you negate a sentence in Polish, the direct object will usually switch to the genitive case.
3. Pay attention to gender and number. The genitive case endings change depending on whether the noun is singular, plural, masculine, feminine, or neuter, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with common patterns.

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Conclusion: Mastering the Genitive Case in Polish

The genitive case is a fundamental part of Polish grammar, and while it can seem challenging at first, it’s highly versatile and used in a variety of contexts. From expressing possession to indicating quantities and negating sentences, the genitive case plays a key role in everyday Polish.

By learning the common prepositions that require the genitive and practicing with real-life examples, you’ll be well on your way to mastering this important case. Keep practicing, and soon using the genitive case will become second nature!

Do you have any questions about the genitive case? Leave a comment below, and I’ll be happy to help!