All About German Genitive Case – Simply Explained/ Der Genitiv

In this lesson, you will learn all about the German genitive case, the genitive, and how it is used and declined. You will find tidbits that make learning easier, as well as prepositions and verbs that go with the genitive case—overview of two tables with articles, pronouns, and adjectives.

CONTENT

Declension
Little things that make learning easier
Genitive + proper nouns
Von + Dative
Prepositional genitive
Genitive verbs
Adjective with genitive case
Article and adjective in the genitive case
Pronouns in the genitive case
What is German genitive case ?
Genitive case or von

The genitive is the second case of the four cases in the German language. It expresses belonging to someone or something. It stands BEHIND nouns, verbs, prepositions and adjectives.The question word for the genitive is: Wessen? (Whose?);

Genitive after the noun:
Das Auto des Chefs ist alt.
Wessen Auto ist alt? – Des Chefs.

Genitive after the prepositions:
Wegen des Autos ging er zur Werkstatt.

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Grammar Content

Declension – What is important to know

Masculine and neuter singular nouns end in -es

Small tips that make learning easier

Masculine and neuter nouns have the ending -s or -es.
The ending -es is added to monosyllabic nouns and nouns ending in s, ß, x, z.

With monosyllabic nouns, the suffix -s can also be used, but -es sounds better.

For example:
das Kind – des Kindes

The suffix -es MUST be used for the nouns with the endings s, ß, x, z,.

For example:
das Haus – des Hauses
der Strauß – des Straußes
When it comes after nouns, the genitive expresses affiliation to something or someone.

For example:
Das Auto des Chefs ist alt.
is                    is
noun              noun
subject           genitive as the ‘possessive’case
nominative

Genitiv + Proprer names

With proper names, the genitive case is constructed differently. We don’t use any article here.
The proper name stands in the genitive before the noun.
The suffix –s is added to the proper name

For example:
Linas Tasche
Leos Bruder

If the proper name ends in s, ß, x, z, then only an apostrophe is placed:
For example:
Felix’ Fahrrad

Prersonal names in the genitive usually come first.

For example:
Mias Freund – Mia’s boyfriend
Leos Handy – Leo’s mobile phone
Frau Meyers Wagen – Mrs. Meyer’s car
Thomas Manns Werke – Thomas Mann’s works
Deutschlands Grenze – Germany’s border

In written German, though, personal names without a title and geographical names can follow the noun phrase which they depend on.

For example:
der Wagen Frau Meyers
die Werke Thomas Manns
die Grenze Deutschlands

Otherwise, the genitive comes first only in rather old-fashioned literary usage, or in set phrases.

von + Dativ

The genitive of proper names can be replaced with the construction von + Dativ.

For example:
Felix’ Haus  –  das Haus von Felix
Mias Mutter – die Mutter von Mia
Hannas Kleid – das Kleid von Hanna

Prepositions with the genitive case

Prepositions with the genitive case are: während, wegen, innerhalb, außerhalb, oberhalb, unterhalb, aufgrund, anstelle, anstatt, trotz …
For example:
während der Pauze – during the break
außerhalb des Dorfes – outside the village

Genitive verbs

Genitive verbs are: anklagen, beschuldigen, gedenken, bedürfen, verdächtigen …

For example:
Man klagt sie des Betrugs an.They are accused of fraud.
Wir gedenken der Opfer.We remember the victims.
Ich bedürfe der Hilfe.I need help.
Man verdächtigt ihn des Diebstahls.He is suspected of theft.
Er wird des sexuellen Missbrauchs beschuldigt.He is accused of sexual abuse.

Adjectives with genitive case

bedürftig (required): Sie ist des Schutzes bedürftig. – She needs protection.
bewusst (aware): Er ist sich keines Vergehens nicht bewusst. – He is not conscious of any wrongdoing.
gewiss (sure): Wir sind uns seiner Unterstützung gewiss. – We are confident of his support.
mächtig (master): Er ist der französichen Sprache mächtig. – He has mastered the French language.
sicher (safe): Er ist sich seines Erfolges sicher. – He is confident of his success.
verdächtig (suspicious): Sie ist des Diebstahls verdächtig. – She is suspected of theft.
würdig (worthy): Er ist meines Vertrauens nicht würdig. – He is not worthy of my trust.

Adjectives in the genitive form are always found after the noun and are not declined.

 The genitive is rarely used in German, but we still need to know it.

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Grammar Contents

Article and adjective in the genitive case

Pronouns in the genitive case

What is German genitive case?

The genitive case in modern German is typically used in more formal, especially written language, and is often seen as the preferred usage. However, in informal language, it may sound affected, and other constructions are often preferred in everyday speech. The main function of the genitive case is to link noun phrases. In English, this is typically done using the preposition “of.”

While the genitive case is often thought of as the possessive case, its usage is wider as it can also be used to express possession, such as:
die Hälfte des Hauses – half the house
die Abfahrt des Buses – the departure of the bus
der Umbau der Brücke – the reconstruction of the bridge
ein Strahl der Hoffnung – a ray of hope
die Pflicht der Dankbarkeit – the duty of gratitude

A noun in the genitive case with a verbal noun can sometimes be ambiguous, as it may come from the subject or the object of the verb.

For example:
The phrase “die Beschreibung des Zeuges” could refer to the witness describing something or somebody describing the witness. Ambiguities like this can be resolved by rephrasing if necessary, for instance, “die Beschreibung durch den Zeugen” makes it clear that it is the witness who is describing something and not himself being described.

A noun phrase in the genitive case usually follows the noun phrase on which it depends.
For example:
die Gefahr einer Lawine – the danger of an avalanche
die Namen der Kunden – the names of the customers
das Auto des Chefs – the boss’s car

Some verbs take an object in the genitive case

There are very few verbs in modern German that can take an object in the genitive case. Some examples include “bedürfen” (to require), “gedenken”(to commemorate), “sterben”(to die). For instance, one might say, “Sie starb eines friedlichen Todes.” meaning “She died a peaceful death..” These verbs are primarily used in formal contexts.

Noun phrases in the genitive case can occur after the verb sein as predicate complements. Some fixed expressions with this construction are still commonly used.

For example:

Ich bin der Meinung, dass … – I am of the opinion that …
Wir sind gleichen Alters. – We are of the same age.
Ich bin der Ansicht, dass … – I am of the view that …
Er war guter/schlechter Laune. – He was in a good/bad mood.

The genitive case of nouns that denote time can refer to either indefinite or habitual time. These are primarily fixed expressions, and they are modified by adjectives only in formal contexts.

eines Tages one day
eines schönen Sonntags one fine Sunday
eines Morgens one morning
eines Montagsmorgens one Monday morning
eines nebligen Abends one foggy evening
dieser Tage in the next/last few days
eines Nachts one night

Note the form of eines Nachts, despite the fact that die Nacht is feminine. Some simple adverbs, like morgens, and abends, originated from noun phrases in the genitive with the definite article,like des Morgens, des Abends, etc. The full phrases are still occasionally used in formal writing.

Genitive case or von?

In written German, using the genitive case where appropriate is considered a hallmark of good style. However, in everyday conversation, it is much less commonly used, except when referring to names (for example, “Marinas Fahrrad” or “Martins Rucksack”). In many cases, people prefer to use a prepositional phrase with “von” instead.

For example:

everyday speech: der Eingang vom Haus, die Tasche von meiner Frau
written German: der Eingang des Hauses, die Tasche meiner Frau

In written German, there are instances where the genitive case cannot be used, and the preposition “von” must be employed instead. However, it is generally advisable to use the genitive in formal writing.

Here are some contexts where a phrase with “von” is commonly used:

(a) When a noun stands alone or is paired with a non-declining word, such as a determiner without an ending or a numeral.

For example: “der Bau von Kirchen” (the construction of churches).

(b) In descriptive phrases.

For example:“ein Mann von bezaubernder Höflichkeit” (a man of enchanting politeness).

(c) With personal pronouns, although the genitive forms are rarely used.

For example: “zwei von euch” (two of you).

(d) In partitive constructions with “viel,” “wenig,” and indefinite pronouns.

For example: “viel/wenig von dem, was sie sagte” (much/little of what she said).

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