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The Genitive: Possession Like a Local

B1

des Mannes, der Frau, eines Tages — the case that makes German sound grown-up, plus the everyday escape hatch 'von + Dativ' and the prepositions that insist on genitive.

How it works

The genitive answers 'Wessen?' — whose? Feminine and plural nouns look unchanged and only their article (der, einer) reveals the case; masculine and neuter nouns add -s or -es, and their article becomes des or eines. Headline German adores it: 'Ende der Woche' (end of the week) is pure genitive.

Genitive articles and noun endings
GenusDefinite articleIndefinite article
Maskulindes Manneseines Mannes
Femininder Fraueiner Frau
Neutrumdes Kindeseines Kindes
Pluralder Frauen— (kein unbestimmter Artikel im Plural)

Beispiele — examples in context

Das ist das Auto des Nachbarn.

That's the neighbor's car.

Tipp: Weak nouns take -n instead of -s: des Nachbarn, des Studenten, des Kollegen.

Die Meinung der Frau war sehr interessant.

The woman's opinion was very interesting.

Tipp: Feminine nouns don't change at all — only 'der' whispers 'genitive'.

Eines Tages wird alles besser.

One day everything will be better.

Tipp: A fixed expression where English says 'one day' and German insists on genitive.

Genitive or von + Dativ?

In relaxed spoken German, people often dodge the genitive with 'von + Dativ'. Both are correct; the genitive sounds more written, formal and elegant, 'von' more casual and concrete. Use the genitive with people, in writing and after prepositions — those are its home turf. With names it's even simpler: no article at all, just an s or an apostrophe.

Beispiele — examples in context

Das ist das Auto von meinem Nachbarn.

That's my neighbor's car.

Tipp: Perfectly fine in conversation; in an email or exam, prefer 'das Auto meines Nachbarn'.

Ich fahre mit dem Auto meiner Schwester.

I'm driving my sister's car.

Tipp: With names: 'Marias Auto', 'Annas Fahrrad' — and for names ending in s/ß/z: 'Max' Fahrrad'.

Die Tür des Hauses war offen.

The door of the house was open.

Tipp: Chains of things ('Tür des Hauses') sound natural in the genitive — that's headline German.

Prepositions that insist on genitive

A handful of prepositions take the genitive, full stop: wegen (because of), trotz (despite), während (during), aufgrund (due to), außerhalb and innerhalb (outside/inside of). You will hear dative after some of them in casual speech, but the genitive is the choice that works everywhere and impresses everyone.

Beispiele — examples in context

Wegen des Wetters bleiben wir zu Hause.

Because of the weather, we're staying home.

Tipp: 'Wegen dem Wetter' is common in speech, but 'wegen des' is the form exams and style guides reward.

Trotz der Erkältung ist er zur Arbeit gegangen.

Despite his cold, he went to work.

Tipp: Feminine genitive looks exactly like dative — 'der Erkältung' — you get this one for free.

Während der Ferien möchte ich ans Meer.

During the holidays I'd like to go to the seaside.

Tipp: während + Genitiv is the safe standard; in everyday speech you'll also meet während + Dativ.