Editing Genitive case (section)

==German==
{{unreferenced section|date=January 2025}}

=== Formation ===

==== Articles ====
The genitive singular definite article for masculine and neuter nouns is {{lang|de|des}}, while the feminine and plural definite article is {{lang|de|der}}. The indefinite articles are {{lang|de|eines}} for masculine and neuter nouns, and {{lang|de|einer}} for feminine and plural nouns (although the bare form cannot be used in the plural, it manifests in {{lang|de|keiner}}, {{lang|de|meiner}}, etc.)

==== Nouns ====
Singular masculine and neuter nouns of the strong declension in the genitive case are marked with {{lang|de|-(e)s}}. Generally, one-syllable nouns favour the {{lang|de|-es}} ending, and it is obligatory with nouns ending with a sibilant such as {{lang|de|s}} or {{lang|de|z}}. Otherwise, a simple {{lang|de|-s}} ending is usual. Feminine and plural nouns remain uninflected:
*  {{lang|de|des Beitrag'''s'''}} (of the contribution) – masculine
*  {{lang|de|der Blume}} (of the flower) – feminine
*  {{lang|de|des Land'''es'''}} (of the country) – neuter
*  {{lang|de|der Bäume}} (of the trees) – plural
Singular masculine nouns (and one neuter noun) of the weak declension are marked with an {{lang|de|-(e)n}} (or rarely {{lang|de|-(e)ns}}) ending in the genitive case:
*  {{lang|de|des Rabe'''n'''}} (of the raven) – masculine
*  {{lang|de|des Herz'''ens'''}} (of the heart) – neuter

==== Adjectives ====
The declension of adjectives in the genitive case is as follows:
{| class="wikitable"
!
!Masculine & Neuter
!Feminine & Plural
|-
|With article
| rowspan="2" | {{lang|de|-en}}
| {{lang|de|-en}}
|-
|With no article
| {{lang|de|-er}}
|}

==== Personal pronouns ====
The genitive personal pronouns are quite rare and either very formal, literary or outdated. They are as follows (with comparison to the nominative pronouns):
{| class="wikitable"
!Nominative
!Genitive
|-
|{{lang|de|ich}} (I)
|{{lang|de|meiner}}
|-
|{{lang|de|du}} (you sg.)
|{{lang|de|deiner}}
|-
|{{lang|de|er}} (he)
| rowspan="2" | {{lang|de|seiner}}
|-
|{{lang|de|es}} (it)
|-
|{{lang|de|wir}} (we)
|{{lang|de|unser}}
|-
|{{lang|de|ihr}} (you pl.)
|{{lang|de|euer}}
|-
|{{lang|de|Sie}} (you formal sg./pl.)
|{{lang|de|Ihrer}}
|-
|{{lang|de|sie}} (she/they)
|{{lang|de|ihrer}}
|}
Some examples:
*  {{lang|de|Würden Sie statt '''meiner''' gehen?}} (Would you go instead ''of me''?)
*  {{lang|de|Wir sind '''ihrer''' nicht würdig}} (We are not worthy ''of her/them'')
*  {{lang|de|Ich werde '''euer''' gedenken}} (I will commemorate ''you'')

==== Relative pronouns ====
Unlike the personal ones, the genitive relative pronouns are in regular use and are as follows (with comparison to the nominative relative pronouns):
{| class="wikitable"
!
!Nominative
!Genitive
|-
|Masculine
|{{lang|de|der}}
| rowspan="2" | {{lang|de|dessen}}
|-
|Neuter
|{{lang|de|das}}
|-
|Feminine & Plural
|{{lang|de|die}}
|{{lang|de|deren}}
|}
Some examples:
* {{lang|de|Kennst du den Schüler, '''dessen''' Mutter eine Hexe ist?}} (Do you know the student ''whose'' mother is a witch?) – masculine
* {{lang|de|Sie ist die Frau, '''deren''' Mann Rennfahrer ist}} (She is the woman ''whose'' husband is a racer) – feminine

=== Usage ===

==== Nouns ====
The genitive case is often used to show possession or the relation between nouns:
*{{lang|de|die Farbe|italic=no}} {{lang|de|des}} {{lang|de|Himmels}} (the colour ''of the'' ''sky'')
*{{lang|de|Deutschland liegt im Herzen|italic=no}} {{lang|de|Europas}} (Germany lies in the heart ''of Europe'')
*{{lang|de|der Tod|italic=no}} {{lang|de|seiner Frau}} (the death ''of his wife'')
*{{lang|de|die Entwicklung|italic=no}} {{lang|de|dieser Länder}} (the development ''of these countries'')
A simple {{lang|de|s}} is added to the end of a name:
*{{lang|de|Claudias}} {{lang|de|Buch|italic=no}} (''Claudia's'' book)

==== Prepositions ====
The genitive case is also commonly found after certain prepositions:
* {{lang|de|innerhalb|italic=no}} {{lang|de|eines Tages}} (within ''a day'')
* {{lang|de|statt|italic=no}} {{lang|de|des}} {{lang|de|Hemdes}} (instead ''of the shirt'')
* {{lang|de|während|italic=no}} {{lang|de|unserer}} {{lang|de|Abwesenheit}} (during ''our absence'')
* {{lang|de|jenseits|italic=no}} {{lang|de|der Berge}} (beyond ''the mountains'')

==== Adjectives ====
The genitive case can sometimes be found in connection with certain adjectives:
* {{lang|de|Wir sind uns|italic=no}} {{lang|de|dessen}} {{lang|de|bewusst|italic=no}} (We are aware ''of that'')
* {{lang|de|Er ist|italic=no}} {{lang|de|des Diebstahls}} {{lang|de|schuldig|italic=no}} (He is guilty ''of theft'')
* {{lang|de|Das Kind ist|italic=no}} {{lang|de|der Ruhe}} {{lang|de|bedürftig|italic=no}} (The child is in need ''of calmness'')
* {{lang|de|Ich werde|italic=no}} {{lang|de|dieses Lebens}} {{lang|de|überdrüssig|italic=no}} (I am growing weary ''of this life'')

==== Verbs ====
The genitive case is occasionally found in connection with certain verbs (some of which require an accusative before the genitive); they are mostly either formal or legal:
* {{lang|de|Die Stadt erfreut sich|italic=no}} {{lang|de|eines günstigen Klimas}} (The city enjoys ''a favourable climate'')
* {{lang|de|Gedenken Sie|italic=no}} {{lang|de|der Toten}} {{lang|de|des Krieges|italic=no}} (Remember ''those who died'' in (the) war)
* {{lang|de|Wer klagte ihn|italic=no}} {{lang|de|des Mordes}} {{lang|de|an?|italic=no}} (Who accused him ''of murder''?)
* {{lang|de|Man verdächtigt euch|italic=no}} {{lang|de|des Betrugs}} (Someone suspects you ''of (committing) fraud'')