Mastering the German Genitive Case: A Comprehensive Guide
Table of Contents
Introduction
The German genitive case is essential for expressing possession and relationships between nouns. Mastering this case enhances your understanding of German grammar and improves your communication skills. This guide explains what the genitive case is, how it works, and how to use it correctly.
Understanding German Cases
German uses four grammatical cases to indicate the function of nouns and pronouns in a sentence:
Nominative Case: Indicates the subject. Learn more in our guide on the German Nominative Case.
Accusative Case: Indicates the direct object. Read about it in our article on the German Accusative Case.
Dative Case: Indicates the indirect object. Discover more in the German Dative Case guide.
Genitive Case: Indicates possession or relationships.
Each case changes the articles and sometimes the endings of nouns and adjectives. Understanding these cases is essential for proper grammar. For an overview, check out our article on Cases in German Easily Explained.
What Is the Genitive Case?
The genitive case shows possession or close relationships between nouns. It answers the question “whose?” or “of what?”
Example:Das Auto meines Bruders (My brother’s car)
In this sentence, meines Bruders is in the genitive case, indicating that the car belongs to my brother.
Declension of the Genitive Case
In the genitive case, articles and noun endings change. Here are the declensions for definite and indefinite articles, as well as personal pronouns.
Definite Articles in the Genitive Case
Case
Masculine
Feminine
Neuter
Plural
Nominative
der
die
das
die
Genitive
des
der
des
der
Indefinite Articles in the Genitive Case
Case
Masculine
Feminine
Neuter
Nominative
ein
eine
ein
Genitive
eines
einer
eines
Noun Endings in the Genitive Case
Masculine and neuter nouns often add an -s or -es ending in the genitive case.
des Hundes (of the dog)
des Hauses (of the house)
Personal Pronouns in the Genitive Case
Genitive personal pronouns are rarely used in modern German. Instead, possessive adjectives like mein (my) or dein (your) are more common. Learn more about personal pronouns in our article on German Personal Pronouns.
Person
Genitive Pronoun
English Meaning
First Person Singular
meiner
of me
Second Person Singular
deiner
of you
Third Person Singular Masculine
seiner
of him
Third Person Singular Feminine
ihrer
of her
Third Person Singular Neuter
seiner
of it
First Person Plural
unser
of us
Second Person Plural
euer
of you all
Third Person Plural
ihrer
of them
Formal “You”
Ihrer
of you
Example Sentences in the Genitive Case
Master the German genitive case—study grammar concepts at your own pace from the comfort of home.
Here are some sentences using the genitive case with English translations.
German Sentence
English Translation
Das ist das Haus des Lehrers.
That is the teacher’s house.
Wir gedenken unserer Freunde.
We commemorate our friends.
Die Farbe des Autos ist rot.
The color of the car is red.
Er erfreut sich guter Gesundheit.
He enjoys good health.
Genitive Prepositions
Certain prepositions always require the genitive case. Learn more in our detailed list of German genitive prepositions.
Here are some common genitive prepositions:
während (during)
trotz (despite)
wegen (because of)
anstatt (instead of)
innerhalb (within)
außerhalb (outside of)
statt (instead of)
jenseits (beyond)
Examples with Genitive Prepositions
Wir treffen uns während des Meetings. (We meet during the meeting.)
Trotz des Regens gehen wir spazieren. (Despite the rain, we go for a walk.)
Er kommt wegen der Arbeit spät. (He is late because of work.)
Genitive Verbs
Some verbs require the genitive case for their objects. These verbs are less common but important to recognize.
Common Genitive Verbs
gedenken (to remember)
sich bedienen (to make use of)
bedürfen (to need)
beschuldigen (to accuse)
entbehren (to lack)
Examples with Genitive Verbs
Wir gedenken der Opfer. (We remember the victims.)
Sie bedient sich eines Tricks. (She makes use of a trick.)
Das bedarf einer Erklärung. (That requires an explanation.)
Get detailed information about genitive verbs in German with our article: here.
Conclusion
The genitive case is essential for expressing possession and certain relationships in German. By learning the declensions and common usages, you can enhance your language skills and communicate more effectively. Practice using the genitive case in writing and speech to become more comfortable with it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the genitive case still used in modern German?
Yes, the genitive case is still used, especially in written and formal language. However, in spoken German, it is sometimes replaced by the dative case. Learn more about the dative case in our German Dative Case article.
How do I know when to use the genitive case?
Use the genitive case to show possession or close relationships between nouns. It often answers the question “whose?” or “of what?”
What are common genitive prepositions?
Common genitive prepositions include “während,” “trotz,” “wegen,” “anstatt,” “innerhalb,” “außerhalb,” “statt,” and “jenseits.” For a complete list, visit our page on German Genitive Prepositions.
Do personal pronouns have genitive forms?
Genitive personal pronouns exist but are rarely used in modern German. Possession is usually expressed with possessive adjectives like “mein” (my) or “dein” (your). For more on personal pronouns, see our article on German Personal Pronouns.
Can I avoid the genitive case in conversation?
In casual speech, Germans often use the dative case with “von” to indicate possession. For example, “das Buch von dem Mann” instead of “das Buch des Mannes.” Learn how to use the nominative and accusative cases in our articles on the German Nominative Case and the German Accusative Case.
