The Genitive case in Russian

Russian grammar: Genitive case, Russian prepositions

In this lesson, we start learning the Genitive case. Here, we will give you a general explanation and prepositions that are used with the Genitive, plus we will practice with a few examples.

When we use the Genitive case

1. To say that something belongs or refers to something (possession or linking two nouns together, where you would use “of” in Engilsh);
2. With negation – to show an absence of something
3. To talk about origin (something is “made of” or someone “comes from”);
4. Talking about quantity of something or when counting things;
5. Talking about distances and directions (from … to, until), locations (near, inside) and time indications (after, before).

Examples

Below are examples of the Genitive case. The nouns and pronouns in the Genitive are highlighted.

Read the examples and try to understand why the Genitive case is used.

Э́то кни́га мое́й ма́мы.
This is my mom’s book. (posession)

В э́том магази́не нет хле́ба.
There is no bread in this shop. (negation, absence)

Э́тот стол сде́лан из де́рева.
This table is made of wood. (origin)

Две ча́шки ко́фе.
Two cups of coffee. (quantity, reference)

Немно́го воды́.
Some water. (quantity)

Уро́к ру́сского языка́.
Russian language lesson (lesson of the Russian language). (reference)

В ко́мнате мно́го стульев, но нет стола́.
There are many chairs in the room, but there is no table. (quantity, absence)

Мо́жно мне стака́н со́ка?
Can I have a glass of juice? (reference)

Prepositions used with the Genitive case

у – next, by

У окна́ стои́т стол.
There is a table by the window.

Мне пора́, у меня́ есть дела́.
I have to go, I have some things to do.

для – for

Для меня́ это сли́шком тру́дно.
This is too difficult for me.

Тут для тебя́ письмо́.
Here is a letter for you.

из – of, from

Он из друго́го го́рода.
He is from another city.

Э́ти боти́нки сде́ланы из ко́жи.
These shoes are made ​​of leather.

без – without

Без тебя́ так пло́хо.
It’s so bad without you.

Он говори́т без остано́вки.
He talks non-stop.

до – until, up to, to
от – from

От до́ма до шко́лы пять мину́т пешко́м.
From home to school is five minutes walking.

около, возле – nearby, close to, next to

Чемода́н стои́т во́зле две́ри.
The suitcase is near the door.

Припарку́йся где́-нибудь о́коло до́ма.
Park somewhere around the house.

внутри – inside

Что внутри́ коро́бки?
What’s inside the box?

после – after

Что ты де́лаешь по́сле рабо́ты?
What are you doing after work?

вокруг – around

Что ты ви́дишь вокру́г себя́?
What do you see around yourself?

кроме – except

Пришли́ все, кро́ме Ми́ши.
Everyone came except Misha.

This list of Genitive case prepositions is far from being complete. Also remember that often the Genitive case is used without any preposition.

Practice all the examples and prepositions with the audio track. In the next few lessons we will continue to learn Russian and look at how to form the Genitive case with nouns of different genders and with pronouns.

The offline version of this lesson is available here

Check how well you understood the Genitive case and memorized the Genitive case prepositions with the quiz below.

• 017. The Nominative case in Russian
• 019. The Genitive case with singular nouns