Declension
Main article: Czech declension
Czechs typically refer to the noun cases by number and learn them by means of the question
to which they are the answer. These numbers do not necessarily correspond to numbered
cases in other languages (e.g., the Slovene locative and instrumental are known as the 5th and
6th cases). When learning a new word, Czech children recite the cases using a set of example
phrases, shown as follows:
1. kdo/co? (who/what?) nominative
2. bez koho/čeho? (without whom/what?) genitive
3. ke komu/čemu? (to whom/what?) dative
4. vidíme koho/co? (We see whom/what?) accusative
5. oslovujeme/voláme (We address/call) vocative
6. o kom/čem? (about whom/what?) locative
7. s kým/čím? (with whom/what?) instrumental
The case used depends on a number of variables.
[edit] Prepositions with certain cases
The simplest of the rules governing noun declension is the use of prepositions (předložky).
Excepting expressions and common phrases, each preposition is matched with a certain noun
declension case depending on use. The following are basic examples of common prepositions
and their corresponding noun cases (note: these examples represent only one circumstance.
Often each preposition can be used with two or more noun cases depending on the sentence).
Genitive: během (during), podle/dle (according to/along), vedle (beside), kolem
(around), okolo (around), do (into), od(e) (away from), z(e) (out of/from), bez(e)
(without), místo (instead of), u (at/by the).
Dative: k(e) (towards), proti (against), díky (thanks to), naproti (opposite).
Accusative: skrz(e) (through), pro (for), na (to/for).
Locative: o (around, about), na (on), při (into, in, around), v (in), po (after, around).
Instrumental: za (behind), před (in front of), mezi (between), pod(e) (below), s(e)
(with), nad(e) (above).
Many of the above prepositions are used in different circumstances. For instance, when
motion or a change of position is expressed, prepositions of place such as nad, mezi, na and
pod are used with the accusative case.
The second factor affecting noun declension is the verb used. In Czech grammar, the
accusative case serves as the direct object, and the dative case serves as the indirect object.
Some verbs require the genitive case to be used. For example, the verb "zeptat se" (to ask)
requires that the person being asked the question be in the genitive case (Zeptat se
koho/čeho), and that the thing being asked about follow the preposition "na" and be in the
accusative case (Zeptat se koho/čeho na koho/co).
[edit] Counting and declension
The third factor affecting noun declension is number. Czech has a typical Slavic counting
system, explained as follows with the example masculine animate noun muž (man):
For the number one, the singular number is used: jeden muž.
For the numbers 2, 3, and 4, any case may be used, depending on the function of the
noun in the sentence: dva muži (nominative). "Vidím dva muže" (accusative).
For all numbers from 5 on, the genitive plural is used when the noun would normally
be in the nominative–accusative or vocative case: pět mužů. "Pět mužů je tam." Five men
are over there. "Vidím pět mužů." I see five men. For other cases, however, the noun is
not placed in the genitive. "Nad pěti muži." Above the five men (instrumental).
The example above shows colloquial use. In literary use, there is an additional rule: The
above system is based only on the last word of the number. Thus a number like 101 uses the
singular (sto jeden muž) and 102 uses the ordinary plural (sto dva muži). For numbers that can
be read in two ways, such as 21, the grammar may depend on which one is chosen (dvacet
jeden muž or jednadvacet mužů). This system is becoming less common and is not used in
everyday speech, as well as becoming harder to find in modern literature.
Numbers have declension patterns in Czech. The number two, for instance, declines as follows:
Nominative dva/dvě
Genitive dvou
Dative dvěma
Accusative dva/dvě
Vocative dva/dvě
Locative (o) dvou
Instrumental dvěma
The numbers are singular (jednotné číslo), plural (množné číslo), and remains of dual. The
number two, as declined above, is an example of the now-diminished dual number. The dual
number is only used for certain parts of the human body: hands, shoulders, eyes, ears, knees,
legs, and breasts. In all but two of the above body parts (eyes and ears) the dual number is
only vestigial and affects very few aspects of declension (mostly the genitive and
prepositional cases). However, in Common Czech this dual ending of the instrumental case is
used as the regular instrumental plural form, for example, s kluky (with the boys) becomes s
klukama, and so on for all nouns.