Genitive Case
The genitive case expresses possession and relationships. It's equivalent to English 'of' or the possessive 's.
In modern German, genitive is less common in spoken language but still important in formal and written German.
This lesson covers how to identify and use the genitive case in German.
Explanation
Genitive expresses possession: 'Das Auto des Mannes' (The man's car / The car of the man) - 'des Mannes' is genitive.
Genitive articles: des (masculine), der (feminine), des (neuter), der (plural).
Genitive pronouns: meiner, deiner, seiner, ihrer, unser, euer, ihrer, Ihrer.
Masculine and neuter nouns add '-s' or '-es' in genitive: 'der Mann' → 'des Mannes', 'das Kind' → 'des Kindes'.
Some prepositions require genitive: während (during), wegen (because of), trotz (despite), statt (instead of).
Genitive Articles
| Gender | Definite Article | Indefinite Article | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | des | eines | des Mannes | of the man |
| Feminine | der | einer | der Frau | of the woman |
| Neuter | des | eines | des Kindes | of the child |
| Plural | der | - | der Kinder | of the children |
Examples
Das Auto des Mannes ist rot.
The man's car is red. (des Mannes = genitive)
Die Farbe der Blume ist schön.
The color of the flower is beautiful. (der Blume = genitive)
Während des Urlaubs war ich in Berlin.
During the vacation I was in Berlin. (des Urlaubs = genitive)
Trotz des Regens gingen wir spazieren.
Despite the rain we went for a walk. (des Regens = genitive)
Common Mistakes
Das Auto der Mann
Das Auto des Mannes
Genitive requires 'des' for masculine and adds '-es' to the noun: 'des Mannes', not 'der Mann'.
Während der Urlaub
Während des Urlaubs
'Während' requires genitive. Masculine 'der Urlaub' becomes 'des Urlaubs' in genitive.
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with interactive exercises. Practice makes perfect!
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which article to use?
German articles (der, die, das) depend on the gender of the noun. While there are some patterns, many nouns must be memorized. Practice and exposure to German will help you learn them naturally.
What's the difference between definite and indefinite articles?
Definite articles (der, die, das) mean 'the' and refer to specific things. Indefinite articles (ein, eine) mean 'a/an' and refer to non-specific things. Both must match the noun's gender: use 'ein' for masculine/neuter and 'eine' for feminine.
Are there rules for determining noun gender?
While there are some helpful patterns (e.g., words ending in -ung are usually feminine), there are many exceptions. The best approach is to learn nouns with their articles from the beginning.
What happens if I use the wrong article?
While using the wrong article is a common mistake, native speakers will usually still understand you. However, using the correct article is important for sounding natural and fluent in German.