Partitive -у/-ю and genitive under negation
Two advanced genitive phenomena are real but restricted; neither should become an automatic beginner rule.
- Restricted partitive
- Some masculine mass nouns permit -у/-ю when an indefinite amount is intended: вы́пить ча́ю, доба́вить са́хару. Ordinary genitive -а/-я remains broadly available: вкус ча́я, нет са́хара. The -у form is lexically and constructionally restricted.
- Direct object under negation
- Actual choice also depends on verb, scope, lexical semantics, register, and context. Negation does not mechanically convert every direct object into genitive.
| Form | Example | Typical reading tendency |
|---|---|---|
| accusative | Я не чита́л э́ту кни́гу. | specific or discourse-established object |
| genitive | Я не чита́л книг. | non-specific, any/no books, stronger absence |
Mini-check
1. Which is restricted: вку́с ча́я or вы́пить ча́ю? 2. Does не automatically force every object into genitive?
Apply this next
- Retrieve the rule without looking, then continue to the next lesson.