The 7 Cases (Pády)
The case system is the heart of Czech grammar. Each case answers specific questions and serves a specific grammatical function.
Visual Overview​
Summary Table​
| Case # | Name (Czech) | Name (Latin) | Questions (Who/What?) | Primary Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nominativ | Nominative | Kdo? Co? | Subject (The doer). Dictionary form. |
| 2 | Genitiv | Genitive | Koho? ÄŒeho? | Possession, "of", after "bez, do, od, z". |
| 3 | Dativ | Dative | Komu? ÄŒemu? | Indirect Object (To whom?), giving. |
| 4 | Akuzativ | Accusative | Koho? Co? | Direct Object (The receiver). Most common case. |
| 5 | Vokativ | Vocative | Oslovujeme! | Calling/Addressing someone. |
| 6 | Lokál | Locative | (o) Kom? (o) Čem? | Location (static), "about". Always with a preposition. |
| 7 | Instrumentál | Instrumental | Kým? ÄŒÃm? | Means/Tool (With what?), "with". |
Quick Summary​
- Nominative: Petr je doma. (Peter is at home.)
- Genitive: To je auto Petra. (That is Peter's car.)
- Dative: Dám to Petrovi. (I will give it to Peter.)
- Accusative: VidÃm Petra. (I see Peter.)
- Vocative: Ahoj, Petře! (Hi, Peter!)
- Locative: MluvÃme o Petrovi. (We are talking about Peter.)
- Instrumental: Jdu s Petrem. (I am going with Peter.)
Prepositions & Cases​
Each preposition requires a specific case. This is one of the most important things to memorize!
