The most common definition of the **genitive** case is that it **shows
possession**. (The genitive case is used for other constructions, but this is
the most common usage.)

In **English** , we have two options to show possession, either through the
**addition of an 's, s' or '**, depending on the ending of the word, or to
place **an "of the"** between the possessed and the possessor, respectively.

In **Latvian** , the **possessor** ( **in the genitive case** ) always
**precedes the possessed**. All bets are off when it comes to poetry, however.

Unlike in Spanish, where genitive constructions can be literally translated in
English as a "[thing] of [person]", **Latvian constructs its genitive
basically as English** does - **" [person's] [thing]". **

The **possessor** will be **in the genitive** case while the **object of
possession** will appear **in the case required** by the sentence's structure.
This could be nominative or locative, for example.

Returning to our cat and mouse game, we get:

  * **Kaķa pele.** _The cat 's mouse._
  * **Peles kaķis.** _The mouse 's cat._