---
title: genitive — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «genitive» in the school dictionary: The form of a noun or pronoun that shows who owns something or what it belongs to: in English, «the dog's bone», «Sam's coat», «the roof of the house». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# genitive

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** noun, pronoun, cat, Latin, Marci, olympiad puzzle · **What happens:** show, own, belong to, form, use, be · **To what, where:** something, noun, English, special case, languages, genitive · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«genitive» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [genitive in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/genitive.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: grammar — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The form of a noun or pronoun that shows who owns something or what it belongs to: in English, «the dog's bone», «Sam's coat», «the roof of the house».

<!-- fold The tree, 31 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:genitive:m1:1
# text = The form of a noun or pronoun that shows who owns something or what it belongs to: in English, «the dog's bone», «Sam's coat», «the roof of the house».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	noun	noun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	pronoun	pronoun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
10	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	owns	own	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	ccomp	_	_
12	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	obj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	12	conj	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	belongs	belong	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	acl:relcl	_	_
17	to	to	ADP	IN	_	16	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	20	punct	_	_
19	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	English	English	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
22	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	26	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	's	's	PART	POS	_	24	case	_	_
26	bone	bone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	26	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	32	punct	_	_
29	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	32	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	Sam	Sam	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	32	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	's	's	PART	POS	_	30	case	_	_
32	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	32	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	37	punct	_	_
35	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	37	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
36	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	37	det	_	_
37	roof	roof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	appos	_	_
38	of	of	ADP	IN	_	40	case	_	_
39	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	40	det	_	_
40	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	37	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
41	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	37	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
42	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | a noun or pronoun |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **own** | present |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn own-100.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot something=Theme |
| 3 | **belong to** | present | pronoun |  |  |  |  |  | vn attend-107.4-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **form** |  |  | a noun or pronoun |  | English |  |  | nom form «communication transitive»: of=patient in=place |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In languages like Latin, German or Ukrainian, a special case ending used for owning and for «of».

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:genitive:m2:1
# text = In languages like Latin, German or Ukrainian, a special case ending used for owning and for «of».
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	languages	language	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl	_	_
3	like	like	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	Latin	Latin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	German	German	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	Ukrainian	Ukrainian	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	case	case	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj:pass	_	_
13	ending	end	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	14	aux:pass	_	_
14	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
15	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
16	owning	own	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	14	advcl	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	for	for	ADP	IN	_	16	obl	_	_
19	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | gerund · passive |  | a special case |  | languages like Latin and German or Ukrainian |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **own** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn own-100.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In «the cat's tail», «cat's» is in the genitive.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:genitive:x1:1
# text = In «the cat's tail», «cat's» is in the genitive.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
2	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	genitive	genitive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | cat |  |  | the genitive |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Latin uses a genitive ending: «Marci» means «of Marcus».

<!-- fold The tree, 9 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:genitive:x2:1
# text = Latin uses a genitive ending: «Marci» means «of Marcus».
1	Latin	Latin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	genitive	genitive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	ending	ending	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	Marci	Marci	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	_
10	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	Marcus	Marcus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Latin | a genitive ending |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ending=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present | Marci | Marcus |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent marcus=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The genitive plural of «children» is «children's».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:genitive:x3:1
# text = The genitive plural of «children» is «children's».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	genitive	genitive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	plural	plural	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present |  |  |  |  |  | 's children | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In German, «des Mannes» is genitive: «of the man».

<!-- fold The tree, 9 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:genitive:x4:1
# text = In German, «des Mannes» is genitive: «of the man».
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	German	German	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	des	de	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	Mannes	Mannes	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	genitive	genitive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **de** *in a quote* | present |  |  |  | German |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | Mannes genitive |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The olympiad puzzle asked us to find the genitive ending.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:genitive:x5:1
# text = The olympiad puzzle asked us to find the genitive ending.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	olympiad	olympiad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	puzzle	puzzle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	iobj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	genitive	genitive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	ending	ending	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the olympiad puzzle |  | us |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S\_INF»: agent=Agent we=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **find** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the olympiad puzzle *not said here* | the genitive ending |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ending=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Whose» is the genitive form of «who».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:genitive:x6:1
# text = «Whose» is the genitive form of «who».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Whose	whose	PRON	WP$	Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	genitive	genitive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | the genitive form |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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