Verbs That Take the Genitive Case
In Polish, most transitive verbs take the Accusative case for their direct object. However, a specific group of common verbs requires the object to be in the Genitive case instead.
As a quick review of the Genitive endings:
- Adjectives: Masculine and neuter take -ego; feminine takes -ej.
- Nouns: Masculine and neuter typically take -a or -u; feminine typically takes -y or -i.
The reflexive verb bać się (to be afraid of) always requires the Genitive case for the thing being feared.
| Why are you afraid of this change? | Dlaczego boisz się tej zmiany? |
| My grandfather was sick and now he is afraid of this illness. | Mój dziadek był chory i teraz boi się tej choroby. |
The verb używać (to use) also requires the Genitive case.
| You must use water and soap. | Musisz używać wody i mydła. |
| Please do not use my soap. | Proszę nie używać mojego mydła. |
Defending and Hating
The verb bronić (to defend) takes the Genitive. Notice how the feminine noun wolność (freedom) takes the Genitive ending -i (wolności).
| Poles always defended freedom. | Polacy zawsze bronili wolności. |
| This politician defends freedom of speech. | Ten polityk broni wolności słowa. |
The verb nienawidzić (to hate) follows the same rule. Watch how masculine nouns like hałas (noise) and stres (stress) take the Genitive -u ending.
| My boss hates noise and stress. | Moja szefowa nienawidzi hałasu i stresu. |
Watching Over and Searching
Finally, you will use the Genitive case with verbs related to looking after or searching for something, such as pilnować (to watch over, look after) and szukać (to look for). Notice how the adjectives match the Genitive nouns in the examples below.
| Please watch your luggage. | Proszę pilnować swojego bagażu. |
| My brother was looking for a new job. | Mój brat szukał nowej pracy. |