Let’s consider this subject — the possessive case. It is gonna be easy because it has a certain analogue in English language. The complication of the subject is that this case is not like the cases in Lessons 6, 7, 8 in Level 1. I would consider this complication so: «This case adds ending and it can be declined by all another cases after that». Probably it sounds complicated, but let’s try to figure out!
What the possessive case actually is? This is a case that shows belonging. It can be used only with names and nouns!
Possessive case is the analogue of English ending [’s]. In Russian language this case is used so: change the ending of a word in nominative case to [-ИН]. Mostly this case is used for words of family and names.
| ПАПА | dad | ПАПИН | dad’s |
| МАМА | mom | МАМИН | mom’s |
| САША | Sasha | САШИН | Sasha’s |
| АНДРЕЙ | Andrey | АНДРЕИН | Andrey’s |
| ДЕДУШКА | grandad | ДЕДУШКИН | Grandad’s |
| ТЁТЯ | aunt | ТЁТИН | aunt’s |
Notice that native speakers use this case not with all nouns! For example in ears of a native speaker «братин» (brother’s), «сестрин» (sister’s), «другин (friend’s)» and other words sound weird!
In the beginning of this lesson you could see such complicated phrase: «This case adds ending and it can be declined by all another cases after that». Let’s consider what it means by an example of the word ПАПА — dad. ПАПА is in the nominative case and ПАПИН is possessive case, now imagine that ПАПИН is new nominative case of this word, or just that ПАПИН is a new noun. So, decline it by cases:
ПАПИН nominative case
ПАПИНОГО genitive case
ПАПИНОМУ dative case
ПАПИН accusative case
ПАПИНЫМ instrumental case
О ПАПИНОМ prepositional case
Also, do not forget about genders and plural: if you say for example «mom’s bag» — it is МАМИНА СУМКА (feminine), dad’s documents — ПАПИНЫ ДОКУМЕНТЫ (plural).
EXAMPLES
ПАПИН РЮКЗАК. Dad’s backpack.
ДЕДУШКИНА ПАЛАТКА. Grandad’s tent.
Я ЗАБЫЛ АНДРЕИН НОМЕР ТЕЛЕФОНА. I forgot Andrey’s phone number.
У МЕНЯ НЕТ НИКИТИНОГО НОМЕРА ТЕЛЕФОНА. I don’t have Nikita’s phone number.
МОЙ ОТЕЦ ДОВОЛЕН НОВОЙ МАМИНОЙ МАШИНОЙ. My father is glad for mom’s new car.
Я ПОМНЮ ДЕДУШКИН СОВЕТ. I remember grandad’s advice
МЫ ЛЮБИМ БАБУШКИНЫ ПИРОЖКИ. We love grandma’s pies
У ТЕБЯ ЕСТЬ АЛЁНИН НОМЕР ТЕЛЕФОНА? Do you have Alyona’s phone number?
СЕРЁЖИНА ПОМОЩЬ ОЧЕНЬ ВАЖНА. Seryozha’s help is very important
Exercises
Use possessive case and decline in appropriate gender, number and case.
- Это рюкзак? (СЕРЁЖА – Serezha, name) – Is it Serezha’s backpack?
- Ты можешь починить часы? (МАМА – mom) – Can you repair mom’s watch?
- У тебя есть номер телефона? (БАБУШКА – grandma) – Do you have grandma’s phone number?
- Я пробовал играть на гитаре (САША – Sasha, name) – I tried to play Sasha’s guitar
- Я не помню идею (ЖЕНЯ – Zhenya, name) – I don’t remember Zhenya’s idea
- Кто взял кошелек? (ДЕДУШКА – grandad) – Who has taken grandad’s wallet?
- Где лежат инструменты? (ПАПА – dad) – Where are the dad’s instruments? (literally: where do the dad’s instruments lie?)
- машина стоит за домом (АНЯ – Anya, name) – Anya’s car is behind the house
- Расскажите нам о свадьбе (НАДЯ – Nadya) – Tell us about Nadya’s wedding
Answers
1: Серёжин, 2: мамины, 3: бабушкин, 4: Сашиной,
5: Женину, 6: дедушкин, 7: папины, 8: Анина, 9: Надиной