But once you master these, talking about your possessions and those of others will become so much easier.This Website has a complete version of all the tables shown. What’s more, the declension tables for the independent possessive pronoun and the possessive adjective/article differ slightly. Both change their form according to the case, gender and number of the noun and the person it belongs to. These include the independent possessive pronouns that replace the noun they stand for and the possessive pronouns that accompany the noun, also called possessive adjectives or possessive articles. But they are worth the effort to learn them in all their possible forms. German possessive pronouns can be a bit overwhelming at first. Possessive pronouns and how to pick the right form Note: If the possessive pronoun doesn’t replace the noun, but accompanies it (possessive adjective/possessive article), the genitive case exists. If possessive pronouns are explaining a noun like attributive adjectives, the declension table looks different: Possessive articles and possessive adjectives This use of the possessive pronoun is quite antiquated. “Ist das der kranke Hund? Ja, das ist der Kranke.” Is this the sick dog? Yes, it is the sick one.ĭon’t worry too much about it, though. ![]() “Ist das dein Hund? Ja, das ist der meine.” Is this your dog? Yes, that is mine. ![]() In that case, the forms change! When used with the direct article der, die, das, the declension of the German possessive article follows the declension table for adjectives that are used with the direct article. Note 3: The possessive pronoun replacing the noun can be used with or without an article. Note 2: The possessive pronoun replacing the noun is not used in the genitive case. If the possessive pronoun replaces the noun, the declension of the German possessive pronoun works like this: You can use a grammar checker to see if you got it right.Ĭhoose your plan German possessive pronouns declension table Just follow these three steps:Īll you have to do now is take the declension table and tick the right box. It is not as complicated as it might look. The noun, to which this person, animal or object belongs, can be one of six grammatical persons ( ich (I), du (you singular), er (he)/ sie (she)/ es (it), wir (we), ihr (you plural), sie (they), plus the formal you Sie in singular and plural). If you want to replace a noun by a possessive pronoun, you have to choose between four cases (nominative, accusative, dative or genitive), three grammatical genders (masculine, female, neutral) and singular or plural.The noun that is to be replaced by the possessive pronoun can be in one of four cases (nominative, accusative, dative or genitive), can have one of three grammatical genders (masculine, female, neutral) and can be singular or plural. Unfortunately, it is not that easy in German. These are the only forms you will ever use in English, no matter how many male or female dogs you own or if you possess one or more kennels for your pet(s). The English possessive adjectives (also called possessive determiners) that are the equivalent to the German possessive adjective/article are my, your, his/her/its, our, your, their. The English equivalents to the German possessive pronouns that replace the noun (independent possessive pronouns) are mine, yours, his/hers/its, ours, yours and theirs. German possessive adjectives/German possessive articles) in detail later. Without the pronoun, we would have to repeat: “Ja, das ist mein Hund.” We will look at the difference between German possessive pronouns that replace the noun and German possessive pronouns that accompany the noun (i.e. In the answer though, the possessive pronoun meiner replaces the noun altogether and allows us to give a short answer to the question. Hence, the terms possessive adjective or possessive article, which are other names for the possessive pronouns. In the question, it is used as an attributive adjective or, one could say, instead of the article. The difference lies in the use of the pronoun. Both are pronouns, and both indicate possession. The question and the answer have a very similar, but slightly different form: dein und meiner. ![]() Is that really your dog? Yes, that is mine. “Ist das wirklich dein Hund? Ja, das ist meiner.” ![]() Sounds confusing, but an example will help: As possessive pronouns, they indicate a relationship of possession. The German possessive pronouns are exactly what the name implies: As pronouns, they replace a noun or accompany a noun.
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