Բանկից, քեզնից, դրանից: the -ից case and everything it can do
The ending -ից is the source case: it answers "from where". -ից is added to the -ի 'of' form, not to the dictionary form: pang → pangi → pangits. The pronouns are irregular and must be known by heart: yes → indzmē, tu → k'eznits. For example: “Այս սակագինը միւսից էժան է” — This rate is cheaper than the other one. A rule from the Western Armenian course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
The ending -ից is the source case: it answers "from where". -ից is added to the -ի (-i) 'of' form, not to the dictionary form: pang → pangi → pangits. The pronouns are irregular and must be known by heart: yes → indzmē, tu → k'eznits.
From where and from whom. Kordzaranits yega — I came from the factory. English splits this among three prepositions — from, off, out of; here one ending does all three. Money is taken "from" people: Hajakhortits gumar arrnel — take money from a client; anormē khntreł — ask him for it.
Comparison, cause, material. Comparison always goes through -ից: Ays sagakinə myusits ezhan e — this rate is cheaper than the other. The aveli in front can be dropped. Vakhits ch'khosets — out of fear he said nothing; p'aydits badrasdvadz — made of wood.
Refusal and dependence. Kordzark'its hrazharvel — to give up a deal; yeghanagits kakhvadz — depending on the weather. From, of, out of, than — all folded into one ending.
Table
| Job of the case | Example | In English |
|---|---|---|
| from where | գործարանից եկա | I came from the factory |
| from whom | հաճախորդից առնել | to take from a client |
| than (comparison) | միւսից էժան | cheaper than the other |
| because of what | ցրտից դողալ | to shiver from the cold |
| of what (material) | փայտից պատրաստված | made of wood |
| give up what | գործարքից հրաժարվել | to give up a deal |
| depend on what | եղանակից կախված | depending on the weather |
| I, you, he | ինծմէ, քեզնից, անորմէ | from me, from you, from him |
By example
- Այս սակագինը միւսից էժան էays sagakinə myusits ezhan eThis rate is cheaper than the other one
- Հաճախորդից կանխավճար առինք, մնացածը՝ առաքումից հետոhajakhortits gankhavjar arrink', mnatsadzə arrak'umits hedoFrom the client we took an advance, the rest — after delivery
- Գործարքից հրաժարվեցին վախից, ոչ թե հաշվարկիցkordzark'its hrazharvetsin vakhits, voch t'e hashvargitsThey gave up the deal out of fear, not by design
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
How to say where i am from?
The ending -ից is the source case: it answers "from where". -ից is added to the -ի 'of' form, not to the dictionary form: pang → pangi → pangits. The pronouns are irregular and must be known by heart: yes → indzmē, tu → k'eznits.
K eznic and anorme forms?
From where and from whom. Kordzaranits yega — I came from the factory. English splits this among three prepositions — from, off, out of; here one ending does all three. Money is taken "from" people: Hajakhortits gumar arrnel — take money from a client; anormē khntreł — ask him for it.
How to say cheaper than the other?
Comparison, cause, material. Comparison always goes through -ից: Ays sagakinə myusits ezhan e — this rate is cheaper than the other. The aveli in front can be dropped. Vakhits ch'khosets — out of fear he said nothing; p'aydits badrasdvadz — made of wood.
Take money from a customer?
Refusal and dependence. Kordzark'its hrazharvel — to give up a deal; yeghanagits kakhvadz — depending on the weather. From, of, out of, than — all folded into one ending.
Depends on the weather?
Refusal and dependence. Kordzark'its hrazharvel — to give up a deal; yeghanagits kakhvadz — depending on the weather. From, of, out of, than — all folded into one ending.
Afraid of the punishment?
Refusal and dependence. Kordzark'its hrazharvel — to give up a deal; yeghanagits kakhvadz — depending on the weather. From, of, out of, than — all folded into one ending.
What does it look like in an example sentence Western Armenian?
“Այս սակագինը միւսից էժան է” (ays sagakinə myusits ezhan e) — This rate is cheaper than the other one. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.