Possessive Pronouns in German: Understand and Use

Possessive pronouns are used to indicate ownership in German. They replace nouns and show possession over a certain object or person. In German, there are six different possessive pronouns:

• mein (my)
• dein (your)
• sein/ihr/sein (his/her/its)
• unser (our)
• euer (your, plural)
• ihr/Ihr (their/your, formal)

Let's break down the usage and the forms of possessive pronouns.

Forms of Possessive Pronouns

Each possessive pronoun has different forms that agree with the gender, number, and case of the noun they replace.

Masculine Nouns

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	mein	unser
Accusative	meinen	unseren
Dative	meinem	unserem
Genitive	meines	unseres

Feminine Nouns

Case	Example	Singular	Plural
Nominative	Die Blume ist __.	meine	unsere
Accusative	Ich sehe __.	meine	unsere
Dative	Ich gebe __.	meiner	unserer
Genitive	Das ist __.	meiner	unserer

Neuter Nouns

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	mein	unser
Accusative	mein	unser
Dative	meinem	unserem
Genitive	meines	unseres

Plural Nouns

Case	Example	Singular	Plural
Nominative	Die Häuser sind __.	meine	unsere
Accusative	Ich sehe __.	meine	unsere
Dative	Ich gebe __.	meinen	unseren
Genitive	Das ist __.	meiner	unserer

Using Possessive Pronouns

To use possessive pronouns in a sentence, follow these guidelines:

1. Identify the noun you want to replace with a possessive pronoun.
2. Choose the correct form of the possessive pronoun based on the gender, number, and case of the noun.
3. Replace the noun with the possessive pronoun.

Examples

• Das ist mein Haus. (That is my house.)
• Ich sehe deine Familie. (I see your family.)
• Sie hat ihre Schlüssel verloren. (She lost her keys.)
• Unser Auto ist blau. (Our car is blue.)
• Ihr müsst eure Hausaufgaben machen. (You all need to do your homework.)
• Sie haben ihren Hund gefunden. (They found their dog.)

Remember to always match the gender, number, and case of the possessive pronoun to the noun it replaces.

Conclusion

Possessive pronouns in German are a crucial part of indicating ownership. By understanding their forms and usage, you can accurately express possession in your sentences. Take note of the gender, number, and case of the noun when selecting the appropriate possessive pronoun. Practice using possessive pronouns in various scenarios to solidify your understanding.