Rules and usage
The genitive case in German expresses possession, belonging, and relationships between nouns. It answers the question "whose?" or "of whom?" and is marked by specific article, adjective, and noun endings. Understanding genitive forms and their contexts is essential for accurate German writing and speaking.
Genitive Functions and Usage
- The genitive case appears in several common contexts:
- Possession and belonging: Das Auto des Vaters ist blau. (The father's car is blue.)
- Close family relationships: Die Frau meines Bruders ist sympathisch. (My brother's wife is nice.)
- After certain prepositions: Wegen des Wetters bin ich zu Hause geblieben. (Because of the weather, I stayed at home.)
- With certain verbs and adjectives: Ich bin mir dessen bewusst. (I am aware of that.)
- In time expressions: eines Tages (one day), während des Krieges (during the war)
✅ Positive sentence examples
| German | English |
|---|
| Das ist das Auto meines Bruders. | This is my brother's car. |
| Die Farbe des Autos ist blau. | The color of the car is blue. |
⛔ Negative sentence examples
| German | English |
|---|
| Das ist nicht das Auto meines Bruders. | This is not my brother's car. |
| Die Farbe des Autos ist nicht blau. | The color of the car is not blue. |
❓ Question sentence examples
| German | English |
|---|
| Ist das das Auto deines Bruders? | Is this your brother's car? |
| Magst du die Farbe des Autos? | Do you like the color of the car? |