There are 7 noun cases in Georgian. If you want to use Georgian correctly it’s good to know at least when to use which. And this is what we’ll show you today. They are much easier than it seems.
Above I mentioned that those are noun cases, but in reality those are the cases that are used almost to every part of speech, including adjectives, pronouns and numerals. The good news is that there are no different forms for the genders of the words, because there are no genders in grammar at all. One does not distinguish between he she and it. Both in pronouns or in the nouns (as it is e.g. in Polish, Russian or German and French).
What are the names of the Georgian cases?
Today we’ll focus on what cases are there and when they are used. You may see it as a basis or the introduction to cases as such. In other posts we focus and will be focusing on how those cases are being used in precise situations.
We’ll use two naming conventions for the cases. First is English one, or European, based on how the cases names are being translated from Georgian. We do that on purpose, because in lots of study books those names are also being used. Additionally, it’s much easier to learn those names than the Georgian ones. Probably majority of them you have already seen somewhere. The second are the names of the cases in Georgian- in case you want to learn them already or use books when that naming convention is also used.
What are the Georgian cases?
The first one is Nominative, სახელობითი ბრუნვა. Similar to other languages it answers questions: Who? What? This is the basic case in which words are in all the dictionaries. If you learn any word, this is probably the form you’ll see it in.
The second one is Ergative – the case that is not used in European languages. Georgian is one of the very few languages that have this case. Therefore it’s sometimes hard to understand how to use it. The Georgian name for it is მოთხრობითი ბრუნვა. Mainly you’ll see in sentences in past simple or optative forms (screeves) in so called subject conjugation. The subject will stay in this case. That is why it is one of the last that you’ll probably learn.
The third one – Dative – is the one you have to become friends as soon as possible. It’s Georgian name is მიცემითი ბრუნვა. This is nothing similar to the Dative you may know from Slavic languages or German. Why it should be your best friend in Georgian? It’s quite hard to create a correct sentences in Georgian without using this case. Lot’s of verbs “require” usage of Dative in many tenses and forms. Additionally, it’s used in many constructions, like telling time, dates an much more.
The fourth one is Genitive, ნათესაობითი ბრუნვა. Often this one is one of the most favourite cases, especially by the people who know other languages with cases. The main purpose of it’s usage is to say that something or someone belongs to something/someone else. For example, the car’s doors or Marina’s coffee.
Instrumental is the fifth one, მოქმედებითი ბრუნვა. Already basing on the name you may deduct a bit when we use it. Often when we say that we do something using else, e.g. going by car or a salad with tomatoes (prepared using tomatoes). This is when this case will be seen.
We are almost over, two left. The sixth one is called Adverbial and the name should already suggest you the adverb. And you are right. The Georgian name of it is ვითარებითი ბრუნვა and one of the situations when we use it when we want to change the adjective into adverb. However, there are also other parts f speech that may be put in Adverbial. Often we can translate it „like/as someone” or to be more precise: I do something as/like someone.
Last but not least is Vocative, წოდებითი ბრუნვა. This is the second favourite case of all among the foreigners. The first one is Nominative of course. Thanks to this case we can address someone, e.g. Mother! Or Mr. Giorgi! Consciously or not you are probably using it from the very first moment of learning Georgian.
Any questions about Georgian cases?
This is it, you made it. You know now what Georgian cases are there and what to expect (lot’s of fun with it of course).
This is a first article in the series. Soon we’ll be publishing separate ones about each and every one of them.
Let us know in the comments if you have any questions. We read them, answer and based on that we may prepare some new articles if we know this topic is interesting for you!
