In Russian, when we want to show that something belongs to someone using plural nouns, we use a special form called the genitive case.

Learning how to change plural nouns into the genitive case is important for talking about ownership. Let’s break it down step by step!

What is the Genitive Case?

The genitive case helps us show who owns something or their connection to it. In Russian, it answers the question "чей?" which means "whose?"

How to Change Plural Nouns into Genitive Case

The endings for plural nouns in the genitive case change based on whether the noun is masculine, feminine, or neuter.

1. Masculine Nouns:

   • For masculine words that end in a consonant, the genitive plural usually ends in -ов or -ей.
   • Examples:
     • Стол (table) becomes Столов (tables).
     • Учитель (teacher) becomes Учителей (teachers).

2. Feminine Nouns:

   • Feminine nouns usually end in -ы or -и when they are plural. In the genitive plural, they change to - or -ей.
   • Examples:
     • Книга (book) becomes Книг (books).
     • Учительница (female teacher) becomes Учительниц (female teachers).

3. Neuter Nouns:

   • Neuter nouns in their plural form usually end in -а or -я. In the genitive plural, they change to - or -ят.
   • Examples:
     • Окно (window) becomes Окон (windows).
     • Письмо (letter) becomes Писем (letters).

Using the Genitive Case

When you want to show ownership with plural nouns in the genitive case, you need to use the right form of the verb "to be" or other verbs. Here are some examples:

• У меня нет книг. (I don’t have any books.)
• Это дом студентов. (This is the students’ house.)
• У нас много учителей. (We have many teachers.)

Practice Changing Sentences

Now, let’s practice turning these sentences into the genitive case using plural nouns:

1. У меня (друзья).

   • Translation: I have friends.
   • Genitive case: У меня нет друзей. (I don't have any friends.)

2. Машины (он).

   • Translation: His cars.
   • Genitive case: Это машины его. (These are his cars.)

3. Собаки (девочка).

   • Translation: The girl’s dogs.
   • Genitive case: Собаки девочки. (The dogs of the girl.)

By learning how to use the genitive case with plural nouns, you can get better at talking about relationships and ownership in Russian. Keep practicing, and you'll improve!