Quote Originally Posted by deker
I think the thing that make difference between cases is the sense not the form. The principal difference between the accusative and the genitive is that the accusative shows an affection of a subject on an object (eg охотник убил волка), the genitive shows dependence one thing to another (eg стакан молока).
It seems to me odd to name that sentences with inanimate objects as the genitive.
Do any grammar books share this approach?