What is the Genitive Case?
Definition
The genitive case is used to indicate possession or ownership.
Word Order Difference
One main difference from English is the word order:
- English: The possessive comes first ("my father's bag")
- German: The genitive usually comes after the noun it refers to
Endings in the Genitive Case
Like the accusative and dative cases, the genitive affects the endings of modifiers (articles, possessives).
| Definite | -es des Mannes | -er der Frau | -es des Kindes | -er der Gäste |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indefinite | -es eines Mannes | -er einer Frau | -es eines Kindes | – |
| Possessive | -es meines Mannes | -er meiner Frau | -es meines Kindes | -er meiner Gäste |
Key Rules
- Modifiers end in -es for masculine and neuter nouns.
- Modifiers end in -er for feminine nouns and plural.
- Masculine and neuter nouns also add -(e)s to the noun itself.
- Short nouns usually add -es (der Mann → des Mannes).
- Longer nouns (2+ syllables) usually add just -s (der Computer → des Computers).
- Feminine nouns and plural nouns do not take an ending.
No Apostrophe!
When an -s is added to masculine or neuter nouns, there is NO apostrophe in German. This also applies to names:
Genitive Prepositions
Certain prepositions require the genitive case. Here are the most common ones:
| trotz | despite |
|---|---|
| während | during |
| wegen | because of |
| (an)statt | instead of |
Note: These forms are less common at beginners' level, but it's good to be aware of them.
Spoken German Alternative
Everyday Speech
In spoken German, the genitive is often considered too formal. A common alternative is to use von + dative:
The Main Points
- The genitive expresses possessive relationships between two nouns.
- Usage is similar to English, but endings change: -es for masculine and neuter nouns -er for feminine nouns and plural
- Don't forget to add -(e)s to masculine and neuter nouns.
- No apostrophe in German possession!
Ready to Practice?
Now that you've reviewed the theory, head over to the Practice page to test your understanding with exercises on von + dative, genitive endings, and translations.
Connect the Chapters
← From Previous
Building on: In Chapter 13, you learned the dative case for indirect objects and after certain prepositions. The genitive builds on this knowledge of case endings — notice how -es and -er follow similar patterns to other cases!
→ Coming Next
Prepare for: Chapter 15 covers Personal Pronouns in all four cases (nominative, accusative, dative, and genitive). You'll see how pronouns change form just like articles do!