In Russian, you will often see the genitive case used in negative sentences. This is called the “genitive case of absence” or the “genitive case of negation.”
What’s unusual about the genitive of negation, though, is that it is not always necessary. For example, you could just as easily phrase the sentence above using the accusative case instead.
Why are there two variants? Is the meaning different in any way? In this post, we’ll take you through when you might want to use (or not use!) the genitive case in negative sentences or sentences expressing absence/non-existence. Let’s have a look!
How to say “there isn’t any” or “there is no” in Russian?
In Russian, you can say “there isn’t any” or “there is no” in English, by using нет transcribed nyetmeaning to not be + the genitive case. This is called the genitive of absence.
genitive case
The verb нет is the negative form of the Russian verb быть transcribed bytmeaning to be. When we use it to talk about absence or nonexistence it has only three forms: present, past, and future. These forms are used regardless of the gender or number of the noun that is absent:
| Past | не было Transcription: NYE byla |
|---|---|
| Present | нет* Transcription: nyet |
| Future | не будет Transcription: nye BOOdyet |
Here are a few more examples of such negative sentences in the past and future:
When to use the genitive case for direct objects in Russian negative sentences?
In Russian, the standard case for direct objects is the accusative, but in negative sentences it is quite common for them to appear in the genitive case instead. This is called the genitive of negation.
In negative sentences, the object may appear either in the accusative case (as in a positive sentence) or in the genitive case. Often there is not much difference in meaning.
However, there are some cases where you are most likely to see the genitive of negation used in modern Russian:
In sentences with double negation (e.g. I didn’t do nothing), the direct object is generally genitive.
Certain verbs are more likely to take a genitive object in negative sentences.
You’re more likely to hear the genitive case if the object is an abstract noun.
You’re more likely to use the genitive case for nonspecific direct objects.
Let’s have a look at each of these!
Genitive case in sentences with with double or multiple negation
If a negative sentence uses both the negative particle не transcribed nemeaning not and another negative word or particle, then the direct object will usually be genitive, not accusative. For example:
In Russian, “double negation” (or “multiple negation”) is quite common. This means that a sentence that is already negative can contain other negative words as well. So sentences like “I didn’t say nothing!” or “I wouldn’t never do nothing to you!” are quite common in Russian.
These additional negative words are called “negative intensifiers,” and if one of them is used, you’ll generally want to use the genitive case for the direct object.
Let’s look at a few more examples:
Which verbs generally have genitive objects in negative sentences?
In Russian, verbs of possession, perception, thinking, or expectation will most often have genitive direct objects, when they are used in negative sentences. For example:
| Positive Sentence (accusative object) | Negative Sentence (genitive object) |
|---|---|
Они слышали эти новости по радио. Transcription: aNEE SLYshali Eti NOvasti pa RAdio Translation: They heard this news on the radio. | Они не слышали этих новостей по радио. Transcription: aNEE nye SLYshali Etikh navaSTEY pa RAdio Translation: They didn’t hear this news on the radio. |
Он знает город. Transcription: on ZNAyet GOrat Translation: He knows the city. | Он не знает города. Transcription: on nye ZNAyet GOrada Translation: He doesn’t know the city. |
Олег получал письма каждый день. Transcription: aLYEK palooCHAL PEESma KAZHdyi dyen Translation: Oleg received letters every day. | Олег не получал писем каждый день. Transcription: aLYEK nye palooCHAL PEEsyem KAZHdiy dyen Translation: Oleg didn’t receive letters every day. |
Here is a list of some other verbs that follow this pattern:
иметь transcribed iMYETmeaning to have
получать transcribed palooCHATmeaning to get, receive
доставать transcribed dastaVATmeaning to obtain
видеть transcribed VEEdyetmeaning to see
слышать transcribed SLYshatmeaning to hear
думать transcribed DOOmatmeaning to think
понимать transcribed paniMATmeaning to understand
знать transcribed znatmeaning to know
хотеть transcribed khaTYETmeaning to want
желать transcribed zhiLATmeaning to wish
ожидать transcribed azhiDATmeaning to expect
Using the genitive case for an abstract direct object
In general, you’re more likely to see the genitive case used if the direct object of a negative sentence is an abstract noun like “happiness,” “interest,” “devotion,” or “thoughtfulness.”
| Positive Sentence (accusative object) | Negative Sentence (genitive object) |
|---|---|
Анна скрывала свою радость. Transcription: Ana skryVAla svoYU RAdast Translation: Anna was hiding her joy. | Анна не скрывала своей радости. Transcription: Ana nee skryVAla svaYEY RAdasti Translation: Anna didn’t hide her joy. |
Он любил порядок и дисциплину. Transcription: on lyuBEEL paRYAdak i distsipLEEnoo Translation: He liked order and discipline. | Он не любил порядка и дисциплины. Transcription: on nee lyuBEEL paRYATka i distsipLEEny Translation: He didn’t like order and discipline. |
Genitive case for nonspecific objects of negative verbs
In other sentences with single negation the direct object may be either accusative or genitive. However, the accusative is more common if the object is specific, while the genitive is more common if the object is nonspecific. Compare:
| Specific Object (accusative object) | Nonspecific Object (genitive object) |
|---|---|
Картины они там не нашли. Transcription: karTEENy aNEE tam nee nashLEE Translation: They didn’t find the paintings there. | картин они там не нашли. Transcription: karTEEN aNEE tam nee nashLEE Translation: They didn’t find any paintings there. |
Он главу не прочитал. Transcription: on glaVOOnee prachiTAL Translation: He didn’t read the chapter. | Он главы не прочитал. Transcription: on glaVY nee prachiTAL Translation: He didn’t read a chapter. |
What are some set phrases that use the genitive of negation?
In many idioms and proverbs in Russian, the genitive of negation is used because it was historically the primary case used with negation. Here are some examples of such phrases:
- Не обращать вниманияTranscription: nye abraSHCHAT vniMAniyaTranslation: to not pay attention
- Не принимать участияTranscription: nye priniMAT ooCHAStiyaTranslation: to not take part
- Не упускать возможностиTranscription: nye oopooSKAT vazMOZHnastiTranslation: to not lose an opportunity
- Не иметь представленияTranscription: nye iMYET pryetstavLYEniyaTranslation: to not have a clue
For more examples of phrases like these, download the list of common phrases with the genitive of negation at the bottom of this page!
Conclusion
In this post, we have looked at different situations in which the genitive case is used in negative sentences. There are two distinct types of these situations:
You must use genitive in negative sentences stating that something is absent or does not exist. This includes sentences you would translate using phrases like “there is not…” or “there are no…”, but also phrases that use “doesn’t have”!
In negative structures, the direct object may be either accusative (as in the positive sentence) or genitive (called the genitive of negation). Though there may be little difference between the two, the genitive case is preferred in some contexts:
in sentences with multiple negation
with verbs of possession, perception, thinking, or expectation
if the object is an abstract noun
if the object is nonspecific
Ready to practice what you’ve learned? Try out our genitive of negation exercises by clicking the link below. Happy learning!
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