Lokativform

Lokativform, or the locative form, is the form of a noun, pronoun, or adjective used in the locative case in languages that retain a distinct locative. It marks location or position with respect to another entity and is often required after certain prepositions, such as in, on, at, or about. In Slavic grammar, the locative is a separate case, though in many languages its function is closely tied to prepositional usage.

In practice, the locative is used to express location and, in some languages, the topic of discussion. For example, in Czech one says v městě (in the city) or o městě (about the city), where městě is the locative form of město. In Polish, w mieście means “in the city,” with mieście being the locative form of miasto. In Croatian, Bosnian, and Serbian, the phrase u gradu (in the city) uses gradu as the locative form of grad. In Ukrainian, phrases like у місті also employ the locative function after prepositions, reflecting similar usage in languages with a locative system.

Morphology and variation: The exact endings and the range of nouns that use locative forms vary by language and noun class. Adjectives and numerals agree in case with the nouns they modify. The locative is often used primarily after prepositions and in fixed expressions, and in some languages it has merged with or is shared with a corresponding prepositional form in ordinary speech.

Overall, the lokativform is a key element of the grammar of languages with a distinct locative case, serving to indicate location, topic, or other relations expressed through location-based constructions.