Podtext

Possessive determiners (mein, dein, ihr …)

Stems

Possessive determiners (Possessivartikel) show ownership or association. The stem indicates the owner: mein- (ich), dein- (du), sein- (er/es), ihr- (sie), unser- (wir), euer- (ihr), and Ihr- (Sie). These stems are derived from the genitive of personal pronouns, which is why they agree with the noun they modify, not with the owner. The ending on the stem depends on the gender, number, and case of the following noun, following the same pattern as the indefinite article ein.

A key point: ihr- can mean "her," "their," or, when capitalized, "your" (formal). The formal Ihr- is always capitalized to show respect.

  • Das ist ihr Buch. (That is her book.)
  • Ist das Ihr Auto? (Is that your car?)

Before a noun

When a possessive determiner is used before a noun, it takes the same endings as the indefinite article ein/eine. In the nominative masculine and neuter, and in the accusative neuter, the ending is zero (e.g., mein). In the accusative masculine, it is -en; in the dative masculine and neuter, -em; in the dative feminine, -er; in the dative plural, -en; and in the genitive masculine and neuter, -es, while the genitive feminine and plural take -er. This pattern is consistent for all possessive determiners.

The only irregularity is euer-, which drops the -e- when an ending is added: euer becomes eure, euren, eurem, etc.

  • Ich sehe meinen Bruder. (I see my brother – accusative masculine)
  • Wir fahren mit unserem Auto. (We drive with our car – dative neuter)

Standing alone

When the noun is omitted because it is clear from context, the possessive determiner stands alone and takes the endings of the definite article. For example, instead of "Das ist mein Buch," you can say "Das ist meins" (neuter nominative/accusative). The independent forms are: meiner (masculine nominative), meines/meins (neuter nominative/accusative), meine (feminine/plural), meinen (accusative masculine), meinem (dative masculine/neuter), meiner (dative feminine), meinen (dative plural).

In the neuter nominative and accusative, both meines (formal) and meins (colloquial) are correct. The independent form must agree with the gender and number of the omitted noun.

  • Das ist meins. (That is mine – referring to a neuter noun like Buch)
  • Mein Auto ist größer als deins. (My car is bigger than yours – neuter)

Practical Examples

  1. Mein Buch ist neu. (My book is new – neuter nominative)
  2. Ist das dein Handy? (Is that your phone? – neuter nominative)
  3. Das ist ihre Katze. (That is her cat – feminine nominative)
  4. Wir besuchen unsere Freunde. (We are visiting our friends – plural accusative)
  5. Er mag seinen Job. (He likes his job – masculine accusative)
  6. Sie sucht ihre Schlüssel. (She is looking for her keys – plural accusative)
  7. Das ist nicht euer Auto. (That is not your car – neuter nominative)
  8. Ich sehe eure Eltern. (I see your parents – plural accusative)
  9. Wie geht es Ihrer Familie? (How is your family? – formal, feminine dative)
  10. Ich spreche mit meinem Bruder. (I am speaking with my brother – masculine dative)
  11. Sie fährt mit ihrem Fahrrad. (She is riding her bike – neuter dative)
  12. Habt ihr eure Hausaufgaben gemacht? (Have you done your homework? – plural accusative)
  13. Das ist unser Haus. (That is our house – neuter nominative)
  14. Er gibt seiner Schwester ein Geschenk. (He gives his sister a gift – feminine dative)
  15. Sie haben ihre Tickets vergessen. (They forgot their tickets – plural accusative)