genitiivsingulari

Genitiivsingulari refers to the genitive singular form in languages that use an inflectional grammar. It marks relations such as possession, close association, origin, description, measurement, or part–whole, and functions as one of the oblique cases in a noun’s paradigm. The exact form is language dependent: some languages attach a suffix, others modify the stem, and some rely on periphrastic constructions or determiners.

In languages with explicit case systems, genitive singular is typically contrasted with genitive plural and with other cases. Its meanings often overlap with possessive constructions in English, where possession is shown by ’s or by of- phrases; in languages with a rich genitive, the genitive singular can be required after numerals or quantifiers.

Common usage patterns include showing possession (the book's cover), expressing part–whole relations (the wheel of the car), and indicating source or material (a statue of marble). It can also mark determiners or adjectives in noun phrases.

Morphology: The form is language-specific. It is typically realized by a suffix, but some languages use stem changes or internal adjustments. In analytic or semi-analytic systems, possession may be shown with prepositions or possessive adjectives rather than a true genitive case. In Finnish, for example, the genitive singular often ends in -n (talo → talon).

Etymology and scope: The term derives from Latin genitivus, referring to the genitive case, and the singular form is distinguished from the plural. See also genitive case, singular, and possessive constructions.