Slovene: cases — color-coded quick study

For each case you'll find one example phrase per gender (m / f / n). Structure: verb + (prep) + adjective + noun. English translation included.

Nominative (Kdo? Kaj?)

subject — basic dictionary form

Lep pes teče.
A beautiful dog is running.
m — pes (masculine)
Dobra ženska čaka.
A good woman is waiting.
f — ženska (feminine)
Majhno mesto raste.
A small town is growing.
n — mesto (neuter)
Genitive (Koga? Česa?)

possession, absence, partitive, after some verbs/prepositions

Bojim se velikega psa.
I'm afraid of the big dog.
m — fear of someone (bojim se + gen.)
Brez dobre ženske
Without a good woman it would be hard.
f — brez + genitive
Ni majhnega mesta
There is no small town on the map.
n — negation uses genitive
Dative (Komu? Čemu?)

indirect object — to/for someone

Pomagam staremu prijatelju.
I help the old friend.
m — give help pomagam + dative
Pišem dragi sestri.
I am writing to my dear sister.
f — indirect object
Približam se majhnemu mestu.
I approach / come closer to the small town.
n — približati se takes dative
Accusative (Koga? Kaj?)

direct object; motion toward (with certain verbs)

Vidim velikega psa.
I see the big dog.
m — animate masc uses genitive-like acc.
Poznam dobro žensko.
I know a good woman.
f — direct object
Obiščem majhno mesto.
I visit a small town.
n — motion / visit takes accusative
Locative (O kom? O čem? / location with prep.)

used only with prepositions (o, v, pri, na, etc.)

Govorimo o starem prijatelju.
We are talking about the old friend.
m — o + locative
Sedim v dobri restavraciji.
I sit in a good restaurant.
f — v + locative
Živimo v majhnem mestu.
We live in a small town.
n — place of residence
Instrumental (S kom? S čim?)

with / by means of — often with s/ z

Potujem z velikim psom.
I travel with the big dog.
m — companion (s/z + instr.)
Govorim z dobro prijateljico.
I speak with a good (female) friend.
f — companion
Pišem z novim pisalom.
I write with a new pen.
n — instrument / tool