Lesson 6 - Genitive case of masculine nouns ending in -a

Question 1

How is the genitive case formed?

Answer 1

The inflections of the genitive case are very similar to those of the dative case.

The case ending -ssa is added to the nominal base to form the genitive singular.

The case ending -ānaṃ is added to form the genitive plural.

Question 2

gen. sg. of

nara

Answer 2

narassa

nara + ssa

e.g. Narassa putto bhattaṃ yācati.
The man’s son asks for rice.

Question 3

gen. sg. of

mātula

Answer 3

mātulassa

mātula + ssa

e.g. Mātulassa sahāyako rathaṃ āharati.
The uncle’s friend brings the vehicle.

Question 4

gen. sg. of

kassaka

Answer 4

kassakassa

kassaka + ssa

e.g. Kassakassa sūkaro dīpaṃ dhāvati.
The farmer’s pig runs to the island.

Question 5

gen. pl. of

nara

Answer 5

narānaṃ

nara + ānaṃ

e.g. Narānaṃ puttā bhattaṃ yācanti.
Sons of the men ask for rice.

Question 6

gen. pl. of

mātula

Answer 6

mātulānaṃ

mātula + ānaṃ

e.g. Mātulānaṃ sahāyakā rathe āharanti.
Uncles’ friends bring vehicles.

Question 7

gen. pl. of

kassaka

Answer 7

kassakānaṃ

kassaka + ānaṃ

e.g. Kassakānaṃ sūkarā dipe dhāvanti.
Farmers’ pigs run to the island.