Introduction to the Genitive Case
The genitive case (Genitiv) is used in German to indicate possession or relationships between nouns. It often answers the question "Wessen?" (Whose?) and is typically used in written German, formal contexts, or to describe ownership.
Genitive Articles and Endings
In the genitive case, articles and noun endings change as shown in the tables below. Note that for masculine and neuter nouns, an -s or -es ending is often added.
| Gender |
Definite Article |
Indefinite Article |
| Masculine |
des |
eines |
| Feminine |
der |
einer |
| Neuter |
des |
eines |
| Plural |
der |
keiner |
Noun Endings in the Genitive
- Most masculine and neuter nouns take an -s or -es ending: des Mannes (of the man), des Kindes (of the child).
- Feminine and plural nouns do not change: der Frau (of the woman), der Freunde (of the friends).
Examples of Genitive Case
Here are some example sentences using the genitive case:
Das Auto des Mannes - The man’s car
Die Farbe des Himmels - The color of the sky
Das Zimmer der Kinder - The children’s room
Der Geburtstag meiner Mutter - My mother’s birthday
Common Phrases and Prepositions with Genitive
In German, certain prepositions require the genitive case. Here are some examples:
- wegen - because of
- trotz - despite
- während - during
- anstatt - instead of
Examples with Genitive Prepositions
Wir blieben während des Sturms zu Hause. - We stayed home during the storm.
Trotz des Regens gingen wir spazieren. - Despite the rain, we went for a walk.
Ich komme später wegen des Verkehrs. - I’ll come later because of the traffic.
Note: Practice using the genitive case with different nouns to get comfortable with its forms and endings.