CEN: Lesson - The Genitive Case: The Possessive Genitive
The Possessive Genitive
The most common use of the genitive case is to represent possession and is called the possessive genitive. For example: it is the boy's book. Possession can also include a relationship, such as the mother of the boy. The possessive genitive answers the question, "Whose _____ is it?" The genitive is often translated "of noun" or by using 's/s'.
|
Latin Phrase |
Noun in the Genitive Case |
Genitive translation |
|---|---|---|
|
Est fibula dominae. |
dominae 1st declension, genitive singular |
It is the brooch of the lady. It is the lady's brooch. |
| Habesne togas senatorum? |
senatorum 3rd declension, genitive plural |
Do you have the togas of the senators? Do you have the senators' togas? |
| Puella amicum pueri vocavit. |
pueri 2nd declension, genitive singular |
The girl called the friend of the boy. The girl called the boy's friend. |
Nota bene: in these examples, the genitive form is placed after the noun it is possessing. This is a common word order, so take note of this!
Practice Activities
Activity 1
Activity 2