Genitive Case in Russian Language. When to use Genitive case? ========================= 1. If you answer the following type of questions: свойства чего? (The properties of what?) свойства чья? (The properties of whom?) For example: Это берег чего? Это берег реки. This is bank (property) of what? This is bank (property) of river. Here, "река" becomes "реки", due to Genitive case. 2. Nouns with numerals 2,3,4 and their compounds. For example: два дома. Here дом becomes дома, which is similar to Genitive case. 3. After the verbs: (просить, хотеть, требовать, искать, ждать, достигать, желать, бояться) if the subject in indefinite. For example: Учитель просит внимания. (The teacher asks for attention) Here, внимание becomes внимания, which is similar to Genitive case. 4. The genitive is also used after the words (нет, не было, не будет). For example: у меня нет брата. Here брат becomes брата, which is similar to Genitive case. 5. with the following prepositions: без, для, до, из, из-за, из-под, кроме, на, от, с, со, у, около, вокруг, недалеко от, позади, напротив, посреди, мимо, вдоль. (без воды) Rules of using Genitive case: ========================= 1. Masculine Singular: Add -а to masculine nouns ending in a hard consonant (брат). Add -я to masculine nouns ending in -й, -ь (чай, учитель) 2. Feminine Singular: Add -и to feminine nouns ending in -я, -ь (печь). Add -ы to feminine nouns ending in -a (вода). However, ending should be -и instead of -ы in feminine nouns ending in hard к, г, х or ж ш. For example: (девочка - девочки) 3. Neuter Singular: Add -а to neuter nouns ending in -o (окно). Add -я to neuter nouns ending in -е, -ие (море). 4. Masculine Plural: Add -oв to masculine nouns ending in a consonant. Add -ев to masculine nouns ending in -й. Add -ёв to one-syllable nouns like край, чай. Add -ей to masculine nouns ending in -ь, ж, ч, ш, щ. 5. Feminine Plural: Add -ей to feminine nouns ending in -ь feminine nouns ending in -а, -я lose their endings. 6. Neuter Plural: Add -й to neuter nouns ending in -e. Neuter nouns ending in -o lose their endings (Collected from different source)