German Adjective Endings in the Genitive Case
If you know the genitive case, you only need one new rule for its adjective endings: with an article they are almost exactly the same as in the dative. The exception is the zero article. This lesson shows you the endings with tables and examples.
Before You Start
You need to know the genitive articles first. Read The German Genitive: Articles and Examples and The Genitive -s or -es. It also helps to know the dative adjective endings, because the genitive is very similar.
Genitive Endings with the Definite Article
After des and der, the adjective always ends in -en.
| Gender | Genitive | Example |
|---|---|---|
| masculine | des alten Mannes | Das ist das Auto des alten Mannes. |
| feminine | der alten Frau | Das ist das Haus der alten Frau. |
| neuter | des kleinen Kindes | Das ist das Spielzeug des kleinen Kindes. |
| plural | der alten Leute | Das ist das Haus der alten Leute. |
Genitive Endings with the Indefinite Article
With eines, einer and keiner the ending is also -en.
| Gender | Genitive | Example |
|---|---|---|
| masculine | eines alten Mannes | Das ist das Auto eines alten Mannes. |
| feminine | einer alten Frau | Das ist das Haus einer alten Frau. |
| neuter | eines kleinen Kindes | Das ist das Spielzeug eines kleinen Kindes. |
| plural | keiner alten Leute | Das ist das Haus keiner alten Leute. |
As in the dative, it is -en for all genders and the plural, so there is no difference between the definite and the indefinite article.
Bonus Tip: The Zero Article
Without an article, the adjective shows the case itself, and the genitive endings are not the same as with an article. The masculine and neuter ending is -en, the feminine and the plural ending is -er.
| Gender | Genitive (no article) | Example |
|---|---|---|
| masculine | trotz starken Regens | Trotz starken Regens gehen wir spazieren. |
| feminine | wegen guter Arbeit | Wegen guter Arbeit bekommt sie eine PrƤmie. |
| neuter | wegen schlechten Wetters | Wegen schlechten Wetters bleiben wir zu Hause. |
| plural | wegen schlechter Noten | Wegen schlechter Noten ist er traurig. |
You will mostly see this after genitive prepositions such as wegen and trotz. Learn more in German Genitive Prepositions: Trotz and Wegen.
The Whole Series
You can now decline adjectives in all four cases. Review the series: nominative, accusative, dative and genitive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which ending do adjectives get in the genitive?
With a definite or indefinite article the ending is always -en: des alten Mannes, einer alten Frau.
Are the genitive and dative endings the same?
With an article, yes: both use -en for all genders and the plural. Without an article they differ.
Which endings do I use without an article in the genitive?
-en for masculine and neuter, -er for feminine and plural: trotz starken Regens, wegen guter Arbeit.
Do masculine nouns change in the genitive?
Yes. Masculine and neuter nouns usually get -s or -es: des alten Mannes, des kleinen Kindes.
When do I see the genitive zero article in real German?
Most often after genitive prepositions such as wegen and trotz, for example wegen schlechten Wetters.
Want to master the German cases step by step? Our B1 German course takes you through the genitive and much more.
