Relativsätze im Genitiv (Relative Clauses in the Genitive Case) – B2 Level (Goethe / ÖSD)
Relative Clauses in the Genitive Case (Relativsätze im Genitiv)
What Are Genitive Relative Clauses?
Relative clauses (Relativsätze) provide additional information about a noun in the main clause. In Genitive relative clauses, the relative pronoun replaces a possessive structure (e.g., “dessen” = “his/her/its” or “deren” = “their”). These clauses show possession and often replace “dessen” (for masculine/neuter) or “deren” (for feminine/plural).
Formation of Genitive Relative Clauses
Relative pronouns in the genitive case:
Artikel | Maskulin / Neutrum | Feminin / Plural |
Genitive Pronoun | dessen | deren |
Sentence structure:
- Main Clause + Comma + Relative Clause (with dessen/deren + Object/Subject + Verb at the end)
Examples:
Examples with “dessen” (masculine/neuter)
Das ist der Mann, dessen Auto gestohlen wurde.
That is the man whose car was stolen.
Ich habe einen Freund, dessen Vater Arzt ist.
I have a friend whose father is a doctor.
Das ist das Buch, dessen Titel ich vergessen habe.
That is the book whose title I forgot.
Explanation:
- “dessen” replaces “sein Auto” (his car), “sein Vater” (his father), “sein Titel” (its title).
Examples with “deren” (feminine/plural)
Das ist die Frau, deren Sohn in meiner Klasse ist.
That is the woman whose son is in my class.
Ich kenne die Leute, deren Haus sehr groß ist.
I know the people whose house is very big.
Die Schüler, deren Noten sehr gut sind, bekommen ein Stipendium.
The students whose grades are very good receive a scholarship.
Explanation:
- “deren” replaces “ihr Sohn” (her son), “ihr Haus” (their house), “ihre Noten” (their grades).
Common Verbs, Nouns, and Adjectives Requiring Genitive
Some verbs, nouns, and adjectives often require the genitive case, making them useful in Genitive Relative Clauses.
Common Verbs Requiring the Genitive
Verb | Meaning | Example |
sich erinnern + G | to remember | Das ist der Tag, dessen Datum ich nicht vergessen werde. (That is the day whose date I will not forget.) |
bedürfen + G | to require | Das ist ein Problem, dessen Lösung viel Zeit bedarf. (That is a problem whose solution requires a lot of time.) |
gedenken + G | to commemorate | Das ist das Ereignis, dessen wir jedes Jahr gedenken. (That is the event we commemorate every year.) |
Common Nouns That Require the Genitive
Noun + Genitive | Meaning | Example |
die Bedeutung + G | the meaning of | Das ist ein Wort, dessen Bedeutung mir nicht klar ist. (That is a word whose meaning is unclear to me.) |
die Ursache + G | the cause of | Das ist der Fehler, dessen Ursache noch nicht gefunden wurde. (That is the mistake whose cause has not yet been found.) |
der Inhalt + G | the content of | Das ist der Brief, dessen Inhalt geheim ist. (That is the letter whose content is secret.) |
Common Adjectives That Require the Genitive
Adjective + Genitive | Meaning | Example |
sicher + G | sure of | Das ist der Mann, dessen Ehrlichkeit ich mir sicher bin. (That is the man whose honesty I am sure of.) |
bewusst + G | aware of | Das ist die Frau, deren Talent ich mir bewusst bin. (That is the woman whose talent I am aware of.) |
fähig + G | capable of | Das sind die Schüler, deren Leistung ich für fähig halte. (Those are the students whose performance I consider capable.) |