---
title: "Genitive: Formation, Possession, and Relations — German grammar B2"
description: "Form genitive endings with nouns, names, adjectives, and nominalised forms; use von alternatives and dessen/deren in relative clauses."
canonical: "https://cefra.app/en/explore/de/grammar/b2/german-genitive-formation-possession-and-relations"
lang: "en"
learning_language: "de"
cefr_level: "B2"
updated: "2026-07-11"
alternates:
  en: "https://cefra.app/en/explore/de/grammar/b2/german-genitive-formation-possession-and-relations.md"
  fr: "https://cefra.app/fr/explore/de/grammar/b2/german-genitive-formation-possession-and-relations.md"
  pl: "https://cefra.app/pl/explore/de/grammar/b2/german-genitive-formation-possession-and-relations.md"
  ru: "https://cefra.app/ru/explore/de/grammar/b2/german-genitive-formation-possession-and-relations.md"
---

# Genitive: Formation, Possession, and Relations

[Cefra](https://cefra.app/en.md) › [German](https://cefra.app/en/explore/de.md) › [Grammar](https://cefra.app/en/explore/de/grammar.md) › [B2](https://cefra.app/en/explore/de/grammar/b2.md) › Genitive: Formation, Possession, and Relations

Form genitive endings with nouns, names, adjectives, and nominalised forms; use von alternatives and dessen/deren in relative clauses.

Last updated: July 11, 2026

## Rule-to-example map

| Rule                               | German example                                                |
| ---------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| masculine/neuter -s                | das Auto des Lehrers / des Kindes                             |
| monosyllabic often -es             | die Stimme des Mannes                                         |
| sibilant requires -es              | die Mitte des Platzes                                         |
| feminine/plural article ending     | das Büro der Kollegin / der Eltern                            |
| n-declension                       | das Auto des Nachbarn                                         |
| preposed name + s                  | Annas Fahrrad                                                 |
| name ending s/x + apostrophe       | Hans’ Büro / Beatrix’ Auto                                    |
| geographical genitive              | Deutschlands Süden / der Süden Deutschlands                   |
| von alternative without determiner | der Einsatz von Robotern                                      |
| nominalised adjective              | die Hilfe des Kranken                                         |
| relative pronoun dessen/deren      | Der Mann, dessen Auto fehlt. / Die Frau, deren Sohn studiert. |

## Exercises

[Start practice](https://cefra.app/en/explore/de/grammar/b2/german-genitive-formation-possession-and-relations/practice)

1. Sort all expressions by the appropriate rule. (10 tasks)
2. Rewrite the expression using the required genitive structure. (10 tasks)