Genitive Pronouns
Genitive pronouns are used less frequently in modern German, especially in spoken language, but they're still important in formal and written German.
They express possession and relationships, similar to genitive case in general.
This lesson covers genitive pronouns and their uses.
Explanation
Genitive pronouns: meiner (of me/mine), deiner (of you/yours), seiner (of him/his), ihrer (of her/hers), seiner (of it/its), unser (of us/ours), euer (of you/yours), ihrer (of them/theirs), Ihrer (of you/yours formal).
Genitive pronouns are used in formal expressions: 'Ich erinnere mich seiner' (I remember him - formal/literary).
They're also used in certain fixed expressions and after some prepositions that require genitive.
In modern German, genitive pronouns are often replaced by other constructions, especially in spoken language.
Genitive Pronouns
| Person | Pronoun | Example | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ich | meiner | Ich erinnere mich seiner | I remember him | Formal/literary |
| du | deiner | Ich gedenke deiner | I remember you | Formal/literary |
| er | seiner | Ich erinnere mich seiner | I remember him | Formal/literary |
| sie (she) | ihrer | Ich gedenke ihrer | I remember her | Formal/literary |
| es | seiner | Ich erinnere mich seiner | I remember it | Formal/literary |
| wir | unser | Ich gedenke unser | I remember us | Formal/literary |
| ihr | euer | Ich erinnere mich euer | I remember you | Formal/literary |
| sie (they) | ihrer | Ich gedenke ihrer | I remember them | Formal/literary |
| Sie (formal) | Ihrer | Ich erinnere mich Ihrer | I remember you | Formal/literary |
Examples
Ich erinnere mich seiner. (formal)
I remember him. (formal/literary)
Wir gedenken ihrer. (formal)
We remember her. (formal/literary)
Trotz seiner Abwesenheit... (formal)
Despite his absence... (formal)
Common Mistakes
Ich erinnere mich ihn
Ich erinnere mich seiner (formal) or Ich erinnere mich an ihn (modern)
In formal German, use genitive 'seiner'. In modern German, use 'an + accusative': 'an ihn'.
Practice Exercises
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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.