CEFR B1
What you will learn
- Recognise the pattern taught in “The genitive: whose it is, and when you say it that way” in a short example.
- Choose the appropriate form from “The genitive: whose it is, and when you say it that way” using explicit evidence.
- Apply and justify the rule from “The genitive: whose it is, and when you say it that way” in a new case.
Before you start
- Recognise the vocabulary and forms shown in this lesson’s key idea and paradigm.
The idea
The genitive expresses possession and other noun relations. Determiners distinguish des and der; many masculine and neuter nouns add -(e)s, while other noun classes follow their own patterns. In everyday speech, von plus the dative is a frequent alternative for many possession relations.
The determiner forms are des for masculine and neuter, der for feminine and der for the plural. Many strong masculine and neuter nouns add -s or -es: das Auto meines Vaters, der Titel des Buches. Weak masculine nouns keep -(e)n —des Studenten, des Jungen— and some mixed nouns have their own form, such as des Namens or des Herzens; therefore -s is not added automatically to every masculine noun.
In the usual noun phrase, the thing owned comes first and the owner second: «die Farbe des Autos». With proper names, the owner can come first with an attached -s: «Annas Auto», with no apostrophe. Names ending in s, ß, x or z take an apostrophe only: «Max’ Fahrrad».
In everyday speech, von plus the dative is a frequent alternative for many possession relations: «das Auto von meinem Vater». It is neither wrong nor sloppy. The genitive nevertheless remains current in fixed combinations and in formal and written registers.
Prepositions such as während, wegen, trotz, statt, innerhalb and außerhalb govern the genitive in standard German. Colloquial usage has regional or dative variants, so learn the standard government without turning it into an absolute ban.
To choose a form, separate three layers: the determiner marks gender, number and case; the noun class determines whether -(e)s, -(e)n or another form appears; and the whole group normally follows the noun it modifies. This keeps the standard rule distinct from register-based alternatives.
Genitive: article and noun
| Item | Form |
|---|---|
| 1 | masculine singular · des · eines · des neuen Plans |
| 2 | neuter singular · des · eines · des alten Hauses |
| 3 | feminine singular · der · einer · der langen Reise |
| 4 | plural · der · keiner · der neuen Pläne |
Proper names
| Item | Form |
|---|---|
| 1 | regular ending · Paul → Pauls Fahrrad |
| 2 | name ending in s/ß/x/z · Max → Max’ Fahrrad |
| 3 | phrase after the noun · das Fahrrad meines Bruders |
Noun ending
| Item | Form |
|---|---|
| 1 | strong masculine · der Vater · des Vaters · -s |
| 2 | strong neuter · das Buch · des Buches · -es |
| 3 | weak masculine · der Student · des Studenten · -(e)n |
| 4 | mixed masculine · der Name · des Namens · -(e)n + s |
| 5 | special case · das Herz · des Herzens · lexical form |
| 6 | feminine · die Reise · der Reise · no noun suffix |
| 7 | plural · die Pläne · der Pläne · no extra genitive suffix |
How it sounds
- das Auto meines VatersThe owner comes second and the masculine adds -s to the noun.
- das Auto von meinem VaterThe same idea as spoken, with von and the dative.
- Während des Sommers arbeite ich nicht.während takes the genitive, and there is no von alternative there.
- Annas Auto steht draußen.With a proper name the owner goes first, and with no apostrophe.
Check objective 1Another case
A proposed answer is “dem” for this case: “Die Tür dem Museums bleibt heute geschlossen.”. Choose the only valid form.
A proposed answer is “den” for this case: “Die Tür den Museums bleibt heute geschlossen.”. Choose the only valid form.
Answer available without interaction
Answer: des — Museum is singular neuter; the definite article in the genitive is des.
Museum is singular neuter; the definite article in the genitive is des.
Answer: des — Museum is singular neuter; the definite article in the genitive is des.
Museum is singular neuter; the definite article in the genitive is des.
Check objective 2Another case
A proposed answer is “Leon’s” for this case: “Das ist Leon’s Fahrrad. (Leon)”. Choose the only valid form.
A proposed answer is “Leon” for this case: “Das ist Leon Fahrrad. (Leon)”. Choose the only valid form.
Answer available without interaction
Answer: Leons — The proper name Leon comes before the noun and adds -s without an apostrophe.
The proper name Leon comes before the noun and adds -s without an apostrophe.
Answer: Leons — The proper name Leon comes before the noun and adds -s without an apostrophe.
The proper name Leon comes before the noun and adds -s without an apostrophe.
Check objective 3Another case
A proposed answer is “die” for this case: “Während die Reise blieb das Büro geschlossen.”. Choose the only valid form.
A proposed answer is “den” for this case: “Während den Reise blieb das Büro geschlossen.”. Choose the only valid form.
Answer available without interaction
Answer: der — während governs the genitive; Reise is feminine, so the article is der.
während governs the genitive; Reise is feminine, so the article is der.
Answer: der — während governs the genitive; Reise is feminine, so the article is der.
während governs the genitive; Reise is feminine, so the article is der.
When it doesn't hold
What breaks the rule, said out loud. Hiding it is what makes you feel cheated in the exam.
- wegen and trotz are often heard with the dative, and grammars now accept that in speech.trotz dem Regen
- A handful of nouns add -ens instead of -es, and have to be learnt.des Herzens, des Namens
- Some time expressions are fossilised genitives that nobody parses any more.eines Tages
What your own language pushes you to say
Wrong des Vater Auto
Right das Auto des Vaters
English puts the owner first and marks it with 's —«my father's car»— so the German order gets reversed and the -s lands on the wrong word.
Challenge: apply every rule
Solve every case and justify each choice: 1) A proposed answer is “dem” for this case: “Die Tür dem Museums bleibt heute geschlossen.”. Choose the only valid form. 2) A proposed answer is “des” for this case: “Das ist des Fahrrad. (Leon)”. Choose the only valid form. 3) A proposed answer is “die” for this case: “Während die Reise blieb das Büro geschlossen.”. Choose the only valid form.
Answer available without interaction
- Recognise the pattern taught in “The genitive: whose it is, and when you say it that way” in a short example.
- Choose the appropriate form from “The genitive: whose it is, and when you say it that way” using explicit evidence.
- Apply and justify the rule from “The genitive: whose it is, and when you say it that way” in a new case.
Answer: des · Leons · der
Museum is singular neuter; the definite article in the genitive is des. The proper name Leon comes before the noun and adds -s without an apostrophe. während governs the genitive; Reise is feminine, so the article is der.
Continue along this corridor
Practise this: The genitive: des, der, and the -s stuck onto the nounReflexive verbs: sich, and the mich that is sometimes mir