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Genitive

The genitive shows possession or belonging and answers the question 'Wessen?

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The rule

The genitive shows possession or belonging and answers the question 'Wessen?'. The articles change: der→des, die→der, das→des, die (pl.)→der. Masculine and neuter nouns take the ending '-(e)s'. Certain prepositions require the genitive. Genitive articles: des (masculine/neuter), der (feminine/plural). Masculine and neuter nouns take -(e)s: des Mannes, des Kindes, des Buches. One-syllable nouns often take -es: des Mannes, des Hauses. Multi-syllable nouns often take just -s: des Lehrers. Genitive prepositions: wegen, trotz, während, (an)statt, innerhalb, außerhalb. In everyday speech, the genitive is often replaced by 'von' + dative: das Auto von meinem Bruder.

The forms

Articles in the genitive
bestimmtunbestimmt
maskulindes Vaterseines Vaters
femininder Muttereiner Mutter
neutraldes Kindeseines Kindes
Pluralder Eltern—

Quick check

  1. Das ist die Tasche ___ Frau. (the)
    Insert the genitive.
    Answer
    der — Feminine genitive: die → der
  2. Das Büro ___ Chefs ist groß.
    Choose the correct form.
    1. der
    2. des
    3. dem
    4. den
    Answer
    des — Masculine genitive: der → des
  3. das Spielzeug ___ Kindes
    Form the genitive.
    Answer
    des — Neuter genitive: das → des
  4. Trotz dem Regen gingen wir spazieren.
    Correct the mistake.
    Answer
    Trotz des Regens gingen wir spazieren. — trotz + genitive: dem → des, Regen → Regens
  5. ___ des schlechten Wetters blieb er zu Hause.
    Choose the correct preposition.
    1. Wegen
    2. Trotz
    3. Während
    4. Statt
    Answer
    Wegen — Reason → wegen + genitive
  6. Das Ende ___ Filmes war überraschend.
    Insert the genitive.
    Answer
    des — Masculine genitive: der → des

The same exercises come back in the course — there Langula remembers what you know and asks again at the right moment. Learn German free →

BeforeReported speechAfterKonnte, musste, wollte

Cases

The accusative A1What is wanted or needed?→The dative: to whom? A2Who receives the book in “Sie gibt ihm das Buch”?→

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