The basic use of the genitive case is to express a relationship between one noun and another noun, e.g. possession. It thus usually forms a noun phrase, hence my nickname, the “gregarious genitive, ” because it likes to hang out with other nouns. I use the color orange for the genitive. The “o-” is a mnemonic for the common translation “of,” and the “-ge” for the case name, ge-nitive. Orange is not a primary color; this corresponds to the fact that the genitive is not a core part of the clause.
Note: The genitive singular ending of most pronouns is -īus (/-ius). For a review of endings, see Summary of Latin Noun and Adjective Endings.
| Context Clues or Markers | Translations | Grammatical Term or Construction |
| Person “regis filius” |
–’s/of — “king’s son/son of the king” |
possession |
| (Plural) genitive noun with a noun expressing “a part” or “some” or a number or similar or genitive w/ neuter pronoun “pars oppidī” “tres milia civium” “nihil bonī” Note: when the partitive genitive comes first, it is often a structural indication of a series of parts to be discussed: Troiānōrum multī… aliī… |
of –/– preceding noun
“part of the town” “of the Trojans: many. . . others. . .” |
Partitive genitive/ Genitive of whole |
| With adj. expresses measure or essential quality or character of someone/thing: “femina magnae virtutis” “bellum decem annōrum” |
of –/ with –/ or before noun described
“a woman of great virtue” |
Genitive of Description |
| With noun or adj. expressing verbal idea: “Omnes cupidi pacis sunt” “cupiditas pacis” “amor libertatis“ |
“of” or “for” “All are desirous of peace” (cf.: All desire peace) “the desire for peace” “the love of liberty” |
Objective Genitive |
| With nouns indicating verbal ideas “adventus Caesaris” “hic amor eius” |
“of” “the arrival of Caesar” “this love of his” (e.g. for his son) |
Subjective Genitive |
| With noun describing what material or other something is composed of. “exercitus virōrum fortium” “testamentum eius modī” |
“(made/composed/consisting) of”
“an army of brave men” |
Genitive of material (limit/specification) |
| Before causā or gratiā (often a gerund or gerundive) pugnandī causā exemplī gratiā |
“for the sake of fighting” “for (the sake of) example” |
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| With verbs of remembering/forgetting “Virtutis vestrae non obliviscor” “Romanī hōrum actōrum semper meminerint” |
Translate as D.O. “I do not forget your courage” “The Romans will always be mindful of these deeds” |
Genitive with certain verbs |
| With verb of accusing or condemning. To indicate the charge or penalty “Senatus asscusavit caedis eum” “Sisyphus longī laboris damnatus est.” |
“of” “with” “to”
“The Senate accused him of murder” |
Genitive of charge or penalty |