Table of Contents
Genitives in German are a strange phenomenon these days. It has now been removed from the language, but in the meantime, it is still sometimes used. His strange bedside condition means that the genitive is rarely used in everyday German; but it remains entrenched in academia and other official registers.
What is the German genitive? (Genitiv)
- The genitive case (Genitiv) expresses goods or possession.
- This is one of four German (Kasus) cases.
- It is used in a noun-noun structure.
- We also use the genitive after some verbs, prepositions and adjectives.
- The question for the genitive case is “Wessen?
Examples
- „Das Pferd des Reiters ist weiß.“
⇒ Wessen Pferd ist weiß? – Des Reiters!
⇒ Noun – Noun Constructions ⇒ Genitive
- „Während des Spiels verletzt er sich.“
The Prepositions „während“ requires the Genitive ⇒ des Spiels
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How the Genitive Case Works in German
1: How do you say "Good Morning" in German?
Simply put, German uses the same two ways to form the genitive and when to use it, which is actually very similar to English! Two ways to use the genitive in German are:
- Add an s (no apostrophe!)
Use the structure noun modifier + determiner (and/or + adjective) + modifier noun Add a -s
In German, we can add the letter “s” (without the apostrophe) to the names or terms of family members if they are listed right before the name they are modifying: Vaters Computer, Opas Haus .
- Changing sentence structure If we add a determiner and/or one or more adjectives, we must use configuration number 2, equivalent to an ‘of’ sentence in English. (This is “the classic German genitive”):
Der Computer meines Vaters (My father’s computer, literally ‘the computer of my father’)
Das Haus meines lieben Opas (My dear grandpa’s house, or ‘the house of my dear grandpa’)
We also use this variant number 2 of the genitive if we are referring to non-person nouns (so it is more restricted than animate and inanimate possessive nouns in English):
Das Dach des Zuges (the roof of the train)
Das Kälbchen der alten Kuh (the old cow’s calf, or ‘the calf of the old cow’)
Just as in English, there’s a third way to demonstrate one things association to (or ownership of) another thing, but it doesn’t essentially include the genitive case.
- Avoiding the genitive
As mentioned above, we will utilize possessive determiners (my, your, his, her, our, etc.) to show ownership in any of the four cases (nominative, accusative, dative, genitive). These possessive determiners are as often as possible utilized as a way to dodge communicating ownership utilizing the genitive case at all.
Genitive – Declension
We have to alter all Articles according to the case.
Special Characteristics
Nouns that are either Masculine and Neuter need the ending „s“ or „es“.
Nouns that end in -s, -ß, -x, -z (“-es” MUST be used)
-
- „der Platz“ – „des Platzes“
Monosyllabic Nouns: (Just an „s“ is ok, but „-es“ usually sounds better)
- „der Mann“ – „des Mann(e)s“
For all other nouns: just „-s“
End on s, ß, x, z (you MUST use „es“)
- „der Ventilator“ – „der Ventilators“
Use of the Genitive Case
Use: To Indicate Belonging or Possession
We express belonging or possession with the help of Noun-Noun Constructions.
Special Characteristics: Noun-Noun-Constructions with Proper Nouns
As there is no Article, we have to signal the Genitive in a different way:
- „Holgers Pferd ist weiß.“
The Proper noun goes to the front and needs the ending „-s“.
If the proper noun ends with s, ß, x or z an Apostrophe is needed:
- „Hans´ Pferd ist weiß.“
Use: After Prepositions
- „Wegen der Krankheit kann er nicht arbeiten.“
The Preposition „wegen“ needs the use of the Genitive case.
Some of the most important Genitive Prepositions are the following:
„Während“, „wegen“, „trotz“, „innerhalb“, „außerhalb“, „oberhalb“, „unterhalb“, „aufgrund“, „anstelle“, „(an)statt“
If there is a preposition before the noun, all other rules do not matter. ALWAYS apply the rules of the corresponding preposition. It does not matter whether it is a direct or indirect object or what the verb wants to use. The preposition tells you which case to use! ALWAYS!
Use: After certain Verbs
Something, Someone: gedenken, bedürfen, Herr werden
- „Wir gedenken der Toten.“
- „Wir bedürfen der Hilfe.“
- „Wir werden der Situation Herr.“
To someone, something: anklagen, bezichtigen, überführen, beschuldigen, verdächtigen
- „Man klagt ihn der Korruption an.“
- „Man verdächtigt ihn des Verbrechens.“
- „Man beschuldigt ihn des Verrats.“
Commit to one thing: brüsten, erinnern, erfreuen, enthalten, schämen
- „Ich erinnere mich der alten Zeiten.“
- „Ich schäme mich meiner schlechten Aussprache.“
- „Ich erfreue mich des Lebens!“
Use: With certain Adjectives
- Aware (Bewusst): „Ich bin mir meines Fehlers bewusst.“
- Capable (Fähig): „Du bist des Mordes nicht fähig.“
- Certain (Gewiss): „Sie ist sich des Erfolges gewiss.“
- Secure (Sicher): „Du kannst dir meiner Unterstützungsicher sein!“
Also: „überdrüssig“, „verdächtig“, „würdig“, „bedürftig“
The Adjectives always comes after the noun and remains in its basic form!
Exercises
In the following exercises, we will learn how to build sentences using possessive pronouns, translate sentences from English to German, expand our vocabulary and apply everything we have learned in a short text. So let’s get started!
Put the Sentences in the Correct Order – German Genitive Pronouns
a) meines / das / ist / buch / das / bruders
Das ist das Buch meines Bruders.
Answers:
b. Das ist das Auto deines Vaters.
c. Das ist der Hund ihres Nachbarn.
d. Das ist die Tasche unserer Mutter.
e. Das sind die Bücher seines Freundes.
f. Das ist die Wohnung unseres Onkels.
Translate these Sentences – German Genitive Pronouns
a) This is my sister’s house.
Das ist das Haus meiner Schwester.
Answers:
b. Das ist das Auto deines Bruders.
c. Das ist das Buch seines Freundes.
d. Das sind die Zimmer unserer Eltern.
e. Das ist das Büro ihres Chefs.
f. Das sind die Fotos eurer Großeltern.
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Study Tips
The list of things you need to know about the genitive is very short.
- Add “s” to family members’ names and terms when they appear immediately before the name they are editing: Vaters Computer, Opas Haus.
- If you are referring to something other than a human being OR if there is additional information inserted between nouns, an expression with the dative preposition “von” is generally appropriate: Der Computer von meinem Vater, Das Haus von meinem Opa
- Use at least meinetwegen , otherwise there are other forms wegen + pronoun
- Use time expressions for “one day / one day” (eines Tages) and other forms
- Learning idioms and adjectives
To approach this other angle, I recommend NOT using the genitive in these cases in spoken German (they are still usually appropriate in written German):
- with prepositions — use dative only
- with verbs — choose less pretentious alternatives
- with measure — use prepositions or the phrase “von” instead
The Genitive Case in German is essential for showing possession or relationships between nouns, and mastering it is key to improving your fluency. Our Advanced German Language Training offers comprehensive exercises that focus on this case, helping learners understand its usage with clear explanations and practical examples. Through interactive activities and personalized feedback, students will become adept at recognizing and correctly applying the Genitive Case in both written and spoken German.
