Many verbs require the Genitive Case. For a comprehensive list of the most important verbs, see the article on Genitive Case after verbs .
Examples
napić się - to drink
Czy chciałbyś napić się herbaty? - Would you like to drink a cup of tea?
herbaty - Genitive Case
herbata - Nominative Case
potrzebować - to need
Potrzebuję twojej pomocy. - I need your assistance.
twojej pomocy - Genitive Case
twoja pomoc - Nominative Case
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
kupićperf
to buy
daćperf
to give
widziećimperf
to see
słyszećperf
to hear
słuchaćimperf
to listen
spotykaćimperf
to meet
sprzedawaćimperf
to sell
zabieraćimperf
to take
zabićperf
to kill
wyrzucaćimperf
to throw
Example sentences:
Examples
kupić - to buy
Nie kupiłem książki, którą mi poleciłaś. - I did not buy the book you recommended to me.
książki - Genitive Case
książka - Nominative Case
dostać - to get
Nie dostałem swojej przesyłki. - I have not received my parcel.
przesyłki - Genitive Case
przesyłka - Nominative Case
widzieć - to see
Nie widziałem rodziców od lat. - I have not seen my parents for years.
rodziców - Genitive Case
rodzice - Nominative Case
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 Case
czas - Nominative Case
W tym roku nie będzie śniegu na święta. - This year there will be no snow for Christmas.
śniegu - Genitive Case
śnieg - Nominative Case
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 Case
ogórki - Nominative Case
W nocy spadły dwa metry śniegu. - During the night, two meters of snow fell.
śniegu - Genitive Case
śnieg - Nominative Case
Dodaj szklankę mleka. - Add a glass of milk.
mleka - Genitive Case
mleko - Nominative Case
After number 5 and above
Pięć wróbli siedzi na dachu. - Five sparrows are sitting on the roof.
wróbli - Genitive Case
wróble - Nominative Case
Kupiliśmy dziesięć pomarańczy. - We bought ten oranges.
pomarańczy - Genitive Case
pomarańcza - Nominative Case
After expressions meaning some, a bit of
Potrzebuję trochę pieniędzy. - I need some money.
pieniędzy - Genitive Case
pieniądze - Nominative Case
Dodaj szczyptę soli. - Add a pinch of salt.
soli - Genitive Case
sól - Nominative Case
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
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