2

In the phrase:

дом Ивана

"Иван" is in the genitive, which means that the above translates to "Ivan's house". Following this pattern, if I wanted to say "my house", I should logically be able to do that by using я in the genitive:

дом меня

However, in practice I always hear it as "мой дом". Is it ever possible to use "дом меня" to mean "my house"? If so, how is it different to "мой дом"?

Improve this question
3
  • Note: I feel like this might already have been asked, but I couldn't find anything.
    – Jack M
    Sep 27, 2015 at 12:32
  • A related question was asked here: Nominative possessive vs genitive possessive.
    – Yellow Sky
    Sep 27, 2015 at 12:41
  • I found that, but I don't think it's that related. That question is asking why we need to decline possessive pronouns, I'm asking how possessive pronouns are different from genitive personal pronouns.
    – Jack M
    Sep 27, 2015 at 12:53

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
1

The English possessive pronouns are always rendered into Russian as the Russian possessive pronouns, never as the Russian personal pronouns in the Genitive case, just the same way as you would not say it in English '*the house of me'. The function of the Russian personal pronouns in the Genitive case is

  • to follow the prepositions that govern the Genitive case: от меня, для тебя, etc.
  • to follow the verbs that govern the Genitive case: Он боится меня, Я избегаю его, etc.

Note, that the Genitive case forms of all the Russian personal pronouns coincides with their the Accusative case forms.

Improve this answer
0

No, it could be said only as a joke. You may think it like

  • Possessive: Иванов дом = Ivan's house (OK); мой дом = my house (OK)
  • Genitive: дом Ивана = house of Ivan (OK); дом меня = house of me (WRONG)
Improve this answer
9
  • What form is "Иванов"?
    – Jack M
    Sep 27, 2015 at 15:23
  • @JackM - "Ивáнов" is a possessive adjective meaning "Ivan's", something like "Ivanian", like in English you have adjectives formed from proper nouns, like 'Shakespearean', 'Orwellian', etc.
    – Yellow Sky
    Sep 27, 2015 at 15:47
  • @JackM This is possessive adjective. russkiyyazik.ru/721
    – Matt
    Sep 27, 2015 at 15:47
  • @YellowSky "Shakespearean" = "шекспировский"; "Shakespear's" = "Шекспиров". These are different forms in Russian.
    – Matt
    Sep 27, 2015 at 15:53
  • @user4419802 - Sure, still that's the closest English phenomenon to the Russian possessive adjectives.
    – Yellow Sky
    Sep 27, 2015 at 16:12

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.