The Grammar Of Russian Genitive Case

Overview: When To Use Genitive?
Expressing Ownership With Genitive
Cardinal Numbers And Genitive
Genitive After Quantifiers
Genitive After Negation
Abstract Genitive After Negated Verb
Some Verbs Put Object In Genitive
Genitive Prepositions
Substantives In Singular Genitive
Substantives In Plural Genitive
Adjectives In Genitive
Pronouns In Genitive
Numerals In Genitive

Overview: When To Use Genitive?

Russian language uses the genitive case for many different purposes:

In English, we express the ownership with "of" as in "the house of my sister". The corresponding Russian construction puts the owner to the genitive case.
When counting, the counted items are often in genitive. See the numerals page for details.
Inexact quantifiers (several, few, many, none) put the counted noun into genitive case.
Also many prepositions use genitive.

Expressing Ownership With Genitive

The Russian "of" construction is expressed with genitive as

property + owner in genitive

Just like English "of", it can express not just ownership but but express attribute, constituent part and so on.

Cardinal Numbers And Genitive

Singular genitive is used after cardinal numbers 2-5 (два/две, три, четыре, пять) and higher numbers which end in these words (22-25, 33-35, etc.)

Plural genitive is used after cardinal numbers 6-20 and higher numbers ending with these (26-30, 106-120, etc.) as well as anything ending in zero.

Numerals page contains charts and exercises about inflecting counted nouns.

Genitive After Quantifiers

While numbers tell the exact amounts, quantifiers tell inexact amount like "a few" or "many".

Many cats hunt for mice.

Few cats live solely on mouse meat.

My cat has also brough me a few mice.

Note that "all (весь)" is an adjective-like pronoun [TODO: link] in Russian, even if it is a quantifier in English.

Genitive After Negation

When expressing what someone doesn't have, after нет the substantive is in genitive.

There was dark and I didn't have a torch.

Abstract Genitive After Negated Verb

When the verb is negated, the object is in accusative case if concrete and in genitive case if abstract.

I brought food (concrete accusative).

I didn't bring food (concrete accusative).

I didn't bring anything (abstract genitive)

Some Verbs Put The Object In Genitive

Ждать (to wait) always uses genitive as the case of the object, negated or not.

We can but wait for the results. (tatoeba.org)

I will wait for (the duration of) this week (time expression in accusative).

I've been waiting for this week (object in genitive) for a long time.

Стоить (to cost) puts the price in accusative if it is abstract.

It costs a dollar (accusative).

Is it worth your time (genitive)?

It's not worth it (genitive).

Genitive Prepositions

Many prepositions put the following noun phrase in genitive.

Substantives In Singular Genitive

Last letter	Genitive Ending	Example	In English
consonant except й(masc.)	-а	Я Я is a 1st person, singular, nominative form of я {{l\|en\|I}} (first-person singular subject pronoun) пла́ваю плаваю is a present tense, 1st person, singular, imperfective form of плавать to swim, to float to sail три-четыре три is a accusative form of три-четыре kissa ра́за раза is a masculine, singular, genitive form of раз time (an instance or occurrence) one (in counting) в в is a requiring accusative form of в (location) in, at, on (+ prepositional case) (direction) to, into (+ accusative case) (time) at, in, on per неделю. неделю is a feminine, singular, accusative form of неделя week (archaic) Sunday	I swim three or four times a week.
-й (m.)	-я	По́сле После is a requiring genitive form of после after (in time) короткого короткого is a masculine, singular, genitive form of короткий short, brief (figuratively) intimate бо́я боя is a masculine, singular, genitive form of бой beating, breakage battle, combat, engagement fight, fighting, struggle striking (of a clock) мы мы is a 1st person, plural, nominative form of мы {{gloss\|only when used with с#Russian\|с}} I взя́ли взяли is a past tense, ERROR, plural, perfective form of взять to take город. город is a masculine, singular, accusative form of город city, town downtown	We seized the town after a short battle.

For feminine and neuter nouns, singular genitive is identical to plural nominative.

Last letter	Genitive Ending	Example	In English
-ь (masc. or fem.)	-и	Э́то Это is a neutral, singular, nominative form of это {{non-gloss definition\|demonstrative pronoun}}: this, it, that {{non-gloss definition\|neuter form of этот}}: this; compare этот/эта/эти and тот/то/та/те была́ была is a ERROR form of была kissa про́сто просто is a particle. A form of просто kissa фигу́ра фигура is a feminine, singular, nominative form of фигура figure (chess) piece (card games) face card речи. речи is a feminine, singular, genitive form of речь speech, language (spoken) discourse, talk, conversation word	That was only a figure of speech.
-a (feminine)	-ы	Э́то Это is a neutral, singular, nominative form of это {{non-gloss definition\|demonstrative pronoun}}: this, it, that {{non-gloss definition\|neuter form of этот}}: this; compare этот/эта/эти and тот/то/та/те на́ на is a requiring prepositional form of на onto, on to, toward into, in (duration, value, purpose) for about, for (indicating the duration of an action following the verb; must have perfective aspect and past finite form) on, upon in, at with, for ле́вой левой is a feminine, singular, prepositional form of левый left, left-hand (nautical) port left-wing, leftist counterfeit (slang) wrong, strange, unsuitable, impertinent стороне́ стороне is a feminine, singular, prepositional form of сторона side, hand, party direction, quarter place, region, country distance улицы. улицы is a feminine, singular, genitive form of улица street	It is on the left side of the street.
-кa, -га, -жа (feminine)	-и	У У is a requiring genitive form of у at, by, near in the possession of (used to express "to have") тебя́ тебя is a 2nd person, singular, genitive form of тебя kissa три три is a nominative form of три kissa кошки. кошки is a feminine, singular, genitive form of кошка cat cat-o'-nine-tails (technical) grapnel, drag (technical) grappel fork (cranes) car, trolley, carriage (geology) spit, bar (in the plural) climbing irons, climbing grapplers	You have three cats.
-я (feminine)	-и	Том - Том is a masculine, singular, nominative form of том volume (of a book, magazine or disk) владе́лец владелец is a masculine, singular, nominative form of владелец owner э́той этой is a feminine, singular, genitive form of этот this, these it this one that земли. земли is a feminine, singular, genitive form of земля earth land ground, soil (antiquated): country (of Germany) state	Tom is the owner of this land.
-o (neuter)	-a	Я Я is a 1st person, singular, nominative form of я {{l\|en\|I}} (first-person singular subject pronoun) намерен намерен is a short nominative form of намерен kissa рабо́тать работать is a infinitive form of работать to work to function to labor, to toil to be open (for business) до до is a requiring genitive form of до before up to, till, until конца конца is a masculine, singular, genitive form of конец end ending, close, termination death (familiar) distance, way {{label\|ru\|anatomy\|colloquial}} male sex member (nautical) rope One of the five boroughs or Kontsy into which medieval Novgorod was divided. лета. лета is a neutral, singular, genitive form of лето summer {{g\|p}}: years, age, summers	I plan to work the rest of the summer.
-е (neuter)	-я	Она́ Она is a 3rd person, feminine, singular, nominative form of она third-person feminine singular pronoun: she, it. third-person feminine singular objective pronoun: her, it. никогда́ никогда is a positive form of никогда never, nevermore (entails the meaning "always" or "for now on") не́ не is a particle. A form of не (negative in full) not, no, -n't, without Idiomatic negative usage (partial negative) perhaps not, whether ... or not will never (implying impossibility to do something) (usually not translated, gives affirmative meaning for expression, especially in exclamations) ви́дела видела is a past tense, feminine, singular, imperfective form of видеть to see моря. моря is a neutral, singular, genitive form of море sea mare (darker area in the Moon)	She has never seen the sea.

Substantives In Plural Genitive

Out of all Russian cases, plural genitive is the most varied. Two main ways to form genitive are:

By removing the last vowel. If the stem ends in two consonants after vowel removal, a filler vowel is usually added between the consonants. This happens when the word ends in -а, -я or -о.
By adding suffix -ей (when word ends in -е, -ь, -ш or -ж) or -ов/-ев for masculine nouns, which end in consonants.

Last letter	Genitive Ending	Example	In English
consonant except й, ш, ж (m.)	-ов, -ев	Глу́пых Глупых is a plural, genitive form of глупый silly, stupid, foolish inane вопро́сов вопросов is a plural, genitive form of вопрос question matter, issue problem не́ не is a particle. A form of не (negative in full) not, no, -n't, without Idiomatic negative usage (partial negative) perhaps not, whether ... or not will never (implying impossibility to do something) (usually not translated, gives affirmative meaning for expression, especially in exclamations) бывает. бывает is a present tense, 3rd person, singular, imperfective form of бывать to be (no perfective) to occur, to happen (rarely, sometimes, regularly, or often) (no perfective) to be at, to visit, to stay with, perfective: {{l\|ru\|побыва́ть}}	There are no stupid questions.
-й (m.)	-ёв	Наполеон Наполеон is a masculine, singular, nominative form of наполеон kissa Бонапарт Бонапарт is a masculine, singular, nominative form of бонапарт kissa счита́ется считается is a present tense, 3rd person, singular, imperfective form of считаться settle accounts (with), consider, take into consideration, reckon (with) (only imperfective, impersonal) be considered / reputed (smb.), be, pass (for) {{passive form of\|счита́ть\|lang=ru}} одни́м одним is a instrumental form of одним kissa из из is a requiring genitive form of из from out of of, through величайших величайших is a superlative form of великий great large, big too big; larger than necessary (used only with the short form adjective) вое́нных военных is a plural, genitive form of военный military, war martial ге́ниев гениев is a plural, genitive form of гений genius (mythology) genie, jinn, jinni в в is a requiring prepositional form of в (location) in, at, on (+ prepositional case) (direction) to, into (+ accusative case) (time) at, in, on per мирово́й мировой is a feminine, singular, prepositional form of мировой world, global, worldwide cosmic; world power (colloquial) first-rate, first-class, great истории. истории is a feminine, singular, prepositional form of история history, story affair, thing	Napoleon Bonaparte is considered to be one of the greatest military geniuses of world history.
-ш, -ж (m.)	-ей	Э́то Это is a neutral, singular, nominative form of это {{non-gloss definition\|demonstrative pronoun}}: this, it, that {{non-gloss definition\|neuter form of этот}}: this; compare этот/эта/эти and тот/то/та/те оди́н один is a nominative form of один kissa из из is a requiring genitive form of из from out of of, through лу́чших лучших is a plural, genitive form of хороший good fine, nice pretty, good-looking, handsome пляжей пляжей is a plural, genitive form of пляж beach в в is a requiring prepositional form of в (location) in, at, on (+ prepositional case) (direction) to, into (+ accusative case) (time) at, in, on per Австралии. Австралии is a feminine, singular, prepositional form of австралия kissa	This is one of the best beaches in Australia.
-ь (masc. or fem.)	-ей	Мы Мы is a 1st person, plural, nominative form of мы {{gloss\|only when used with с#Russian\|с}} I открыты открыты is a past tense, ERROR, plural, perfective form of открыть to open to turn on to discover to disclose to reveal to unveil to inaugurate семь семь is a accusative form of семь kissa дней дней is a plural, genitive form of день day, daytime afternoon в в is a requiring accusative form of в (location) in, at, on (+ prepositional case) (direction) to, into (+ accusative case) (time) at, in, on per неделю. неделю is a feminine, singular, accusative form of неделя week (archaic) Sunday	We're open seven days a week.
-a (feminine)	- (*)	У У is a requiring genitive form of у at, by, near in the possession of (used to express "to have") собак - собак is a plural, genitive form of собака dog hound (pejorative) mongrel; bastard (Internet) @ (at sign) хозяева, хозяева is a plural, nominative form of хозяин owner, proprietor landlord, housekeeper boss, master, chief, principal, manager, employer, hirer man, husband (computing) host, master (biology) host у у is a requiring genitive form of у at, by, near in the possession of (used to express "to have") кошек - кошек is a plural, genitive form of кошка cat cat-o'-nine-tails (technical) grapnel, drag (technical) grappel fork (cranes) car, trolley, carriage (geology) spit, bar (in the plural) climbing irons, climbing grapplers слуги. слуги is a feminine, singular, genitive form of слуги kissa	Dogs have masters, cats have servants.
-я (feminine)	-й	Э́то Это is a neutral, singular, nominative form of это {{non-gloss definition\|demonstrative pronoun}}: this, it, that {{non-gloss definition\|neuter form of этот}}: this; compare этот/эта/эти and тот/то/та/те са́мая самая is a feminine, singular, nominative form of самая kissa краси́вая красивая is a feminine, singular, nominative form of красивый beautiful, handsome (ironical) fine из из is a requiring genitive form of из from out of of, through все́х всех is a plural, genitive form of весь all, the whole, the whole of everything, all everybody, everyone фотографий фотографий is a plural, genitive form of фотография photograph photography в в is a requiring prepositional form of в (location) in, at, on (+ prepositional case) (direction) to, into (+ accusative case) (time) at, in, on per мо́ём моем is a masculine, singular, prepositional form of мой (possessive pronoun) my, mine альбоме. альбоме is a masculine, singular, prepositional form of альбом album	This is the most beautiful of all the pictures in my album.
-o (neuter)	- (*)	Я Я is a 1st person, singular, nominative form of я {{l\|en\|I}} (first-person singular subject pronoun) ви́дел видел is a past tense, masculine, singular, imperfective form of видеть to see мно́го много is a accusative form of много kissa знако́мых знакомых is a plural, genitive form of знакомый familiar acquainted (with) лиц. лиц is a plural, genitive form of лицо (anatomy) face countenance front (animate) person, individual, individuality {{lb\|ru\|grammar\|animate}} person	I saw many familiar faces.
-е (neuter)	-ей	Он Он is a 3rd person, masculine, singular, nominative form of он third-person masculine singular pronoun: he, it. переплыл переплыл is a past tense, masculine, singular, perfective form of переплыть kissa семь семь is a accusative form of семь kissa морей. морей is a plural, genitive form of море sea mare (darker area in the Moon)	He sailed the Seven Seas.

(*) When the substantive ends in -o or -e, the plural genitive is formed by dropping the last vowel. If the stem ends in two consonants, sometimes a vowel is placed between them, for example кошка (s.nom.) -> кошек (p.gen.) - but not always: невеста (s.nom.) -> невест (p.gen)

Adjectives In Genitive

For adjectives in genitive, the masculine and neuter endings are -ого or -его. In this special case г is pronounced like в, for example кра́сного is pronounced [краaсново]. The feminine ending is -ой or -ей and the plural ending is -ых or -их.

	Common			Exceptions
	Regular Adjectives	Stem ends in г, к, х	Stem ends in ж, ч, ш, щ	Soft stem adjectives	Ending in -ой
Singular Masculine & Neuter	красного стул red chair	глубокого рубец deep scar	хорошего ответ good anwser	синего стул blue chair	большого волк big wolf
Singular Feminine	красной стул red chair	глубокой рубец deep scar	хорошей ответ good anwser	синей стул blue chair	большой волк big wolf
Plural (any and all genders)	красных машины red cars	глубоких шахты deep mine shafts	хороших вопросы good questions	синих машины blue cars	больших окна big windows

Pronouns In Genitive

Out of personal pronouns, only 3rd person pronoun is inflected in gender.

Pronoun	Genitive	Example	In Russian
I, я	меня	На́ша Наша is a feminine, singular, nominative form of наш (possessive pronoun) our, ours встре́ча встреча is a feminine, singular, nominative form of встреча meeting, encounter date reception че́сть честь is a feminine, singular, nominative form of честь honor regard, respect для для is a requiring genitive form of для for меня́ меня is a 1st person, singular, genitive form of меня me (accusative case\|accusative and genitive case of '''я').	Meeting you is an honor for me.
you (singular), ты	тебя	У У is a requiring genitive form of у at, by, near in the possession of (used to express "to have") тебя́ тебя is a 2nd person, singular, genitive form of тебя kissa ко́мната комната is a feminine, singular, nominative form of комната room ка́к как is a ERROR form of как kissa свинарник. свинарник is a masculine, singular, nominative form of свинарник pigsty, pigpen (shelter where pigs are kept)	Your room looks like a pigsty.
he (masc.), он	его	Пусть Пусть is a particle. A form of пусть let + direct object + infinitive ору́жие оружие is a neutral, singular, nominative form of оружие weapon(s), arm(s) cold steel оста́нется останется is a future tense, 3rd person, singular, perfective form of остаться to remain, stay to be left у у is a requiring genitive form of у at, by, near in the possession of (used to express "to have") него. него is a 3rd person, masculine, singular, genitive form of него kissa	Let him continue to have the weapons.
she (fem.), она	её	Си́р Сир is a masculine, singular, nominative form of сир sire Родрик Родрик is a masculine, singular, nominative form of родрик kissa тенью тенью is a masculine, singular, nominative form of тенью kissa маячил маячил is a past tense, masculine, singular, perfective form of маячил kissa во́зле возле is a requiring genitive form of возле beside, by, near неё. нее is a 3rd person, feminine, singular, genitive form of нее alternative spelling of неё
it (neut.), они	его	Для Для is a ERROR form of для for его́ его kissa переноски переноски is a feminine, singular, genitive form of переноска kissa мне мне is a 1st person, singular, dative form of мне kissa нужна нужна is a short nominative form of нужный necessary, needed сумка. сумка is a feminine, singular, nominative form of сумка bag, handbag (US: purse) pouch satchel wallet	I need a bag to carry it in.
we, мы	нас	Для Для is a requiring genitive form of для for нас нас is a 1st person, plural, genitive form of нас kissa э́то это is a neutral, singular, nominative form of это {{non-gloss definition\|demonstrative pronoun}}: this, it, that {{non-gloss definition\|neuter form of этот}}: this; compare этот/эта/эти and тот/то/та/те важно. важно is a short nominative form of важный weighty, important	It matters to us.
you (plural), вы	вас	То́м Том is a masculine, singular, nominative form of том volume (of a book, magazine or disk) сооруди́л соорудил is a past tense, masculine, singular, perfective form of соорудить to build, to construct, to erect у у is a requiring genitive form of у at, by, near in the possession of (used to express "to have") себя́ себя is a genitive form of себя (reflexive pronoun) myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves (no nominative case) (reflexive pronoun) oneself на́ на is a requiring prepositional form of на onto, on to, toward into, in (duration, value, purpose) for about, for (indicating the duration of an action following the verb; must have perfective aspect and past finite form) on, upon in, at with, for за́днем заднем is a masculine, singular, prepositional form of задний rear, back, hind дворе́ дворе is a masculine, singular, prepositional form of двор yard courtyard homestead court иглу. иглу is a masculine, singular, genitive form of иглу igloo	Tom built an igloo in his backyard.
they, они	их	Я Я is a 1st person, singular, nominative form of я {{l\|en\|I}} (first-person singular subject pronoun) их их is a 3rd person, plural, accusative form of их kissa не́ не is a particle. A form of не (negative in full) not, no, -n't, without Idiomatic negative usage (partial negative) perhaps not, whether ... or not will never (implying impossibility to do something) (usually not translated, gives affirmative meaning for expression, especially in exclamations) виню. виню is a present tense, 1st person, singular, imperfective form of винить to accuse, blame	I don't blame them.
oneself	себя	То́м Том is a masculine, singular, nominative form of том volume (of a book, magazine or disk) сооруди́л соорудил is a past tense, masculine, singular, perfective form of соорудить to build, to construct, to erect у у is a requiring genitive form of у at, by, near in the possession of (used to express "to have") себя́ себя is a genitive form of себя (reflexive pronoun) myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves (no nominative case) (reflexive pronoun) oneself на́ на is a requiring prepositional form of на onto, on to, toward into, in (duration, value, purpose) for about, for (indicating the duration of an action following the verb; must have perfective aspect and past finite form) on, upon in, at with, for за́днем заднем is a masculine, singular, prepositional form of задний rear, back, hind дворе́ дворе is a masculine, singular, prepositional form of двор yard courtyard homestead court иглу. иглу is a masculine, singular, genitive form of иглу igloo	Tom built an igloo in his backyard.

Most other kinds of pronouns are inflected like adjectives. Note that весь (all) behaves like an adjective, unlike other quantifiers like "none", "few" or "many".

Pronoun	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
my, мой	моего	моей	моего	моих
your (singluar), твой	твоего	твоей	твоего	твоих
our, наш	нашего	нашей	нашего	наших
your (plural), ваш	вашего	вашей	вашего	ваших
one's own, свой	своего	своей	своего	своих
this, этот	этого	этой	этого	этих
that, тот	того	той	того	тех
, which, которой	которого	которой	которого	которых
all, весь	всего	всей	всего	всех

Numerals In Genitive

These are handled in the numerals page.

Genitive Case

Parts of Speech

Noun Cases

Themes

Vocabulary

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