What is the genitive plural of nouns in Serbian?

What is the Genitive Case in Serbian?

The genitive case in Serbian answers questions such as “of whom?” or “of what?” and is commonly used to show possession, quantity, and the absence of something. While the genitive singular is important, the genitive plural appears frequently, especially in expressions of quantity, negation, and part-whole relationships.

When Do You Use the Genitive Plural?

The genitive plural is used in several contexts, including:

• After numbers (except one, two, three, four, which use a different case)
• With words expressing quantity, such as “mnogo” (many), “puno” (a lot), “nekoliko” (several)
• In negative sentences involving direct objects
• To denote absence or lack of something

How to Form the Genitive Plural in Serbian

Forming the genitive plural depends on the gender and ending of the noun in its nominative singular form. Here is a breakdown:

Masculine Nouns

Masculine nouns usually end in a consonant. To form the genitive plural, the typical ending is -a. For some nouns, especially those with a one-syllable root, an extra vowel may be inserted to aid pronunciation.

• grad (city) → gradova (of cities)
• sto (table) → stolova (of tables)
• pas (dog) → pasa (of dogs)

Feminine Nouns

Feminine nouns often end in -a. In the genitive plural, this ending is usually dropped and replaced with -i or sometimes there is no ending at all. Some feminine nouns require a stem change or insertion of a vowel.

• žena (woman) → žena (of women)
• knjiga (book) → knjiga (of books)
• pesma (song) → pesama (of songs)

Neuter Nouns

Neuter nouns usually end in -o or -e. For the genitive plural, the endings -a or -i are added to the stem.

• dete (child) → dece (of children)
• more (sea) → mora (of seas)
• selo (village) → sela (of villages)

Irregular Forms and Exceptions

As with many languages, Serbian has its share of irregular forms and exceptions. Certain nouns, especially those borrowed from other languages or those with short roots, may not follow the regular patterns. Additionally, some nouns undergo changes in the stem (so-called “stem alternations”) or require the insertion of a vowel to avoid awkward consonant clusters.

• čovek (man) → ljudi (of people)
• oko (eye) → očiju (of eyes)

Tips for Mastering the Genitive Plural

• Practice with real-life examples: Use Serbian texts, listen to native speakers, and create your own sentences.
• Memorize common irregular forms, as they often appear in everyday conversation.
• Use language learning tools like Talkpal to reinforce your understanding through interactive exercises and AI-powered feedback.
• Pay attention to word endings and stem changes, especially when encountering new nouns.

Practical Examples in Sentences

Here are some sentences to illustrate the genitive plural in use:

• Imam mnogo knjiga. (I have many books.)
• Nemam olovaka. (I don’t have any pencils.)
• Na stolu ima nekoliko jabuka. (There are several apples on the table.)

Conclusion

Mastering the genitive plural of nouns in Serbian is a vital step toward fluency. While the rules may seem complex at first, consistent practice and exposure to the language will make them second nature. Remember to use resources like Talkpal to enhance your learning experience and to practice regularly with native materials. With time and dedication, you’ll find that forming and using the genitive plural becomes a natural part of your Serbian communication skills.