Lesson 28 – Genitive

Welcome back! In this lesson, we’re diving into the Genitive Case (Dopełniacz) in Polish. This case is used for negation, quantities, and possession. By the end of this lesson, you’ll understand when and how to use the genitive case, and you’ll be able to construct sentences with confidence. Let’s get started!

What Is the Genitive Case?

The genitive case is used:

1. For negation (e.g., Nie mam czasu. – I don’t have time.).
2. With quantities (e.g., Mam dużo pracy. – I have a lot of work.).
3. To show possession (e.g., To jest książka Ani. – This is Anna’s book.).

When to Use the Genitive Case

You’ll use the genitive case:

1. After negation:
   • Nie mam psa. – I don’t have a dog.
   • Nie widzę książki. – I don’t see the book.
2. With quantities:
   • Mam dużo czasu. – I have a lot of time.
   • Nie ma mleka. – There is no milk.
3. To show possession:
   • To jest samochód Marka. – This is Marek’s car.
   • Kot Ani jest mały. – Anna’s cat is small.

How Nouns Change in the Genitive Case

Here’s how nouns change based on gender and number:

Examples:

• Nie mam kota. – I don’t have a cat.
• Nie widzę książki. – I don’t see the book.
• Mam dużo mleka. – I have a lot of milk.
• To jest samochód Marka. – This is Marek’s car.

Using the Genitive Case in Sentences

Let’s see how the genitive case works in real-life sentences:

1. Negation:
   • Nie mam czasu. – I don’t have time.
   • Nie widzę psa. – I don’t see the dog.
2. Quantities:
   • Mam dużo pracy. – I have a lot of work.
   • Nie ma chleba. – There is no bread.
3. Possession:
   • To jest książka Ani. – This is Anna’s book.
   • Samochód Marka jest nowy. – Marek’s car is new.

Grammar Notes

1. Genitive Endings:
   • Masculine nouns typically end in -a (e.g., kot → kota).
   • Feminine nouns typically end in -i or -y (e.g., książka → książki).
   • Neuter nouns typically end in -a (e.g., mleko → mleka).
   • Plural nouns typically end in -ów or -i (e.g., psy → psów).
2. Common Genitive Prepositions:
   • bez (without), dla (for), do (to), od (from), u (at).
     • Bez ciebie nie ma zabawy. – Without you, there’s no fun.
     • To jest prezent dla Ani. – This is a gift for Anna.

Practice Tasks

1. Fill in the Blanks:
   Complete the sentences with the correct genitive form:
   • Nie mam ___ (dog).
   • Nie widzę ___ (book).
   • Mam dużo ___ (work).
   • To jest samochód ___ (Marek).
2. Translate These Sentences:
   • I don’t have a cat.
   • There is no milk.
   • This is Anna’s book.
   • I have a lot of time.
3. Create Your Own Sentences:
   Write 5 sentences using the genitive case. For example:
   • Nie mam psa. – I don’t have a dog.
   • To jest książka Marka. – This is Marek’s book.

Cultural Tip: Polish Expressions with Genitive

In Polish, many common expressions use the genitive case. For example:

• Nie ma problemu. – No problem.
• Bez pracy nie ma kołaczy. – No pain, no gain. (Literally: Without work, there’s no cake.)

These phrases are great for practicing the genitive case and sounding more natural in Polish.

Homework

1. Write 10 sentences using the genitive case. Include examples of negation, quantities, and possession.
2. Practice saying these sentences out loud. Focus on pronunciation and fluency.
3. Bonus: Look up 5 new nouns and practice using them in the genitive case.

That’s it for Lesson 28! You’ve now mastered the genitive case in Polish. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be using it effortlessly in conversations. Do zobaczenia! 😊