B1 German GrammarGenitive Case
Master the German genitive case (Genitiv) to express possession, relationships between nouns, and use genitive prepositions. Learn the article and adjective endings, noun changes, and when to use genitive versus alternatives like 'von + dative'.
1Genitive Articles and Endings
The genitive case shows possession ('of the'). Articles change to: des (masc/neuter), der (fem/plural). Masculine and neuter nouns add -s or -es ending (des Mannes, des Kindes). Feminine and plural nouns don't change. The genitive answers 'wessen?' (whose?).
Genitive Article Endings
| Gender | Nominative | Genitive | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | der Mann | des Mannes | das Auto des Mannes |
| Feminine | die Frau | der Frau | das Haus der Frau |
| Neuter | das Kind | des Kindes | das Spielzeug des Kindes |
| Plural | die Kinder | der Kinder | die Schule der Kinder |
Examples
Das ist das Auto meines Vaters.
That is my father's car.
meines Vaters = genitive possession
Die Farbe des Himmels ist blau.
The color of the sky is blue.
des Himmels = genitive with -s
Das Ende des Films war überraschend.
The end of the movie was surprising.
des Films = masc. genitive + s
Die Meinung der Experten ist wichtig.
The opinion of the experts is important.
der Experten = plural genitive
2Noun Endings in Genitive
Masculine and neuter nouns add -s or -es in the genitive. Use -es for nouns ending in -s, -ß, -x, -z, -sch, or one-syllable nouns (des Hauses, des Tisches). Use -s for longer nouns (des Computers, des Lehrers). Weak masculine nouns (n-declension) add -n or -en instead.
Genitive Noun Endings
| Noun Type | Nominative | Genitive | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| One syllable | der Tag | des Tages | Add -es |
| Ends in -s, -ß, -z | das Haus | des Hauses | Add -es |
| Multi-syllable | der Lehrer | des Lehrers | Add -s |
| Weak noun | der Student | des Studenten | Add -en |
| Weak noun | der Herr | des Herrn | Add -n |
Examples
Der Anfang des Jahres war kalt.
The beginning of the year was cold.
des Jahres = -es ending
Das Büro des Chefs ist groß.
The boss's office is big.
des Chefs = -s ending
Die Frage des Studenten war gut.
The student's question was good.
des Studenten = weak noun
Das Herz des Menschen ist komplex.
The human heart is complex.
des Menschen = weak noun
3Genitive Prepositions
Several important prepositions require the genitive case. Common ones include: wegen (because of), während (during), trotz (despite), statt/anstatt (instead of), außerhalb (outside of), innerhalb (inside of). In spoken German, some speakers use dative after these, but genitive is correct in formal writing.
Genitive Prepositions
| Preposition | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| wegen | because of | wegen des Wetters |
| während | during | während des Sommers |
| trotz | despite | trotz des Regens |
| statt/anstatt | instead of | statt des Autos |
| außerhalb | outside of | außerhalb der Stadt |
Examples
Wegen des Staus kam ich zu spät.
I arrived late because of the traffic jam.
wegen + genitive
Während des Unterrichts darf man nicht essen.
One may not eat during class.
während + genitive
Trotz des schlechten Wetters gingen wir spazieren.
Despite the bad weather, we went for a walk.
trotz + genitive
Anstatt eines Geschenks gab er Geld.
Instead of a gift, he gave money.
anstatt + genitive
4Genitive vs. von + Dative
In spoken German, 'von + dative' often replaces the genitive, especially with proper nouns and indefinite articles. Both 'das Auto meines Vaters' and 'das Auto von meinem Vater' are correct, but genitive is more formal. With names, 'von' is common: das Buch von Thomas. Use -s with names directly: Thomas' Buch or Thomas's Buch.
Genitive vs. von + Dative
| Genitive (formal) | von + Dative (spoken) | English |
|---|---|---|
| das Auto meines Vaters | das Auto von meinem Vater | my father's car |
| die Bücher der Schule | die Bücher von der Schule | the school's books |
| Annas Haus | das Haus von Anna | Anna's house |
| eines Freundes | von einem Freund | of a friend |
Examples
Das ist das Fahrrad von meiner Schwester.
That is my sister's bicycle.
von + dative (spoken German)
Marias Idee war die beste.
Maria's idea was the best.
Name + s (common pattern)
Ein Freund von mir hat das gesagt.
A friend of mine said that.
von mir (not genitive 'meiner')
Am Ende des Tages war er müde.
At the end of the day, he was tired.
Genitive preferred in fixed phrases