The genitive
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The genitive
The genitive is used to show ownership and belonging.
Das ist Bettys Hotel. (Betty)
This is Betty’s hotel. (Betty = nominative, Bettys = genitive)
Die Sprache meiner Mutter. (meine Mutter)
My mother's language. (meine Mutter = nominative, meiner Mutter = genitive)
These are the endings for articles in the genitive:
| Genitive | Example | |
|---|---|---|
| masculine | -es + s | Das Büro eines Buchhalters The office of an accountant |
| neuter | -es + s | Das Dach des Hotels ist kaputt The roof of the hotel is broken |
| feminine | -er | Die Schwester einer Küchenchefin The sister of a chef |
| Plural | -er | Die Badesachen der Gäste The swimwear of the guests |
To ask whom something belongs to, we use wessen (whose, to whom):
-Wessen Koffer sind das? -Die Koffer der Gäste. (die Gäste)
‑Whose suitcases are these? ‑The guests' suitcases. (die Gäste = nominative, der Gäste = genitive)
Note:
- For names, or masculine and neuter nouns in the genitive, ‑es or ‑s is generally added to the name/noun.
das Hotel die Türen des Hotels
the hotel the doors of the hotel
ein Mann das Buch eines Mannes
a man a man's book
Anna Annas Kleiderschrank
Anna Anna’s wardrobe
- Instead of the genitive we use von + dative for nouns without an article. The dative can also simply be used instead of the genitive in informal speech.
Die Produktion von Bademänteln.
The production of dressing gowns.
Das Hotel von Betty.
Betty’s hotel.
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