---
title: "German Verbs Governing the Genitive — German grammar C1"
description: "Master formal German genitive-governing verbs, patterns with an accusative person plus a genitive charge, and modern prepositional alternatives."
canonical: "https://cefra.app/en/explore/de/grammar/c1/german-verbs-with-genitive"
lang: "en"
learning_language: "de"
cefr_level: "C1"
updated: "2026-07-11"
alternates:
  en: "https://cefra.app/en/explore/de/grammar/c1/german-verbs-with-genitive.md"
  fr: "https://cefra.app/fr/explore/de/grammar/c1/german-verbs-with-genitive.md"
  pl: "https://cefra.app/pl/explore/de/grammar/c1/german-verbs-with-genitive.md"
  ru: "https://cefra.app/ru/explore/de/grammar/c1/german-verbs-with-genitive.md"
---

# German Verbs Governing the Genitive

[Cefra](https://cefra.app/en.md) › [German](https://cefra.app/en/explore/de.md) › [Grammar](https://cefra.app/en/explore/de/grammar.md) › [C1](https://cefra.app/en/explore/de/grammar/c1.md) › German Verbs Governing the Genitive

Master formal German genitive-governing verbs, patterns with an accusative person plus a genitive charge, and modern prepositional alternatives.

Last updated: July 11, 2026

Formal verbs such as **bedürfen, gedenken, sich annehmen, sich bedienen, sich enthalten, sich erbarmen, sich erfreuen, sich rühmen** traditionally govern a genitive object. Another group combines an accusative person with a genitive charge or matter: **jemanden des Betrugs beschuldigen, der Lüge bezichtigen, eines Amtes entheben, des Mordes überführen**. These patterns often occur in the passive. Genitive pronouns such as **meiner, deiner, seiner, ihrer, unser, euer** are highly elevated. In everyday modern German, a prepositional phrase or a different verb is often more natural.

## Patterns with German examples

| Pattern                             | Formal example                                     | Modern alternative                          |
| ----------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| verb + genitive                     | Wir **gedenken der Opfer**.                        | Wir **erinnern an die Opfer**.              |
| requirement                         | Die Sache **bedarf der Klärung**.                  | Die Sache **muss geklärt werden**.          |
| reflexive + genitive                | Er **bediente sich des Wörterbuchs**.              | Er **benutzte das Wörterbuch**.             |
| accusative person + genitive matter | Man **beschuldigt den Händler des Betrugs**.       | Man wirft **dem Händler Betrug** vor.       |
| passive version                     | Der Händler **wurde des Betrugs beschuldigt**.     | Dem Händler **wurde Betrug vorgeworfen**.   |
| removal from office                 | Der Vorstand **enthob den Direktor seines Amtes**. | Der Vorstand **nahm dem Direktor das Amt**. |

Genitive pronouns are possible but marked: **Wir gedenken ihrer. Er bediente sich seiner.** With people, the modern prepositional version is usually clearer: **Wir erinnern uns an sie.**

## Exercises

[Start practice](https://cefra.app/en/explore/de/grammar/c1/german-verbs-with-genitive/practice)

1. Sort the verbs or sentences by complement pattern. (10 tasks)
2. Write the complete sentence using the required complement pattern and register. (10 tasks)