Deutsch · B1 · grammar · 4 minutes
The genitive case
Express possession and follow formal genitive prepositions such as trotz and wegen.
Understand the choice
Genitive packs a relationship into a noun phrase. It appears in possession, formal causes, and concessions, though spoken German often uses von + dative or dative variants regionally.
Core rule: Masculine/neuter genitive uses des/eines plus often -(e)s on the noun; feminine/plural uses der/einer. Wegen and trotz commonly govern genitive in formal standard German.
Notice it in context
Wegen des starken Regens fiel der Ausflug aus.
Because of the heavy rain, the excursion was cancelled.
Wegen assigns genitive des starken Regens; Regen adds -s; the main separable verb fiel…aus frames Ausflug.
Die Farbe des Hauses gefällt mir.
I like the color of the house.
Des Hauses marks neuter possession and adds -es.
Trotz ihrer Bedenken stimmte sie zu.
Despite her concerns, she agreed.
Trotz governs plural genitive ihrer Bedenken.
What to remember
- Proper-name possession often puts the name first: Annas Fahrrad.
- One-syllable masculine/neuter nouns often prefer -es: des Kindes, des Hauses.
Common trap: Do not add a genitive noun ending to feminine or plural nouns.