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<div class="pg_page_title">[[Language/German|German]]  → [[Language/German/Grammar|Grammar]] → [[Language/German/Grammar/0-to-A1-Course|0 to A1 Course]] → Possessive Pronouns</div>


Welcome to our lesson on '''Possessive Pronouns''' in German! Understanding possessive pronouns is crucial as they help you express ownership and relationships in both casual conversations and more formal contexts. Imagine wanting to say, "This is my book" or "Is that your friend?" – possessive pronouns make these sentences clear and concise.


In this lesson, we will explore:


<div class="pg_page_title">German Grammar → Pronouns and Possessives → Possessive Pronouns</div>
* What possessive pronouns are
 
* How they change according to gender and case
 
* A variety of examples to illustrate their use
 
* Exercises to practice what you've learned
 
So, let’s dive right in!


__TOC__
__TOC__


As a German language teacher with 20 years of experience, I can attest that possessive pronouns are an essential aspect of German grammar. They allow us to indicate possession and ownership of people, things, and even concepts in a sentence. In this lesson, we will cover everything you need to know about possessive pronouns, including their forms and usage for different genders and cases.
=== What are Possessive Pronouns? ===
 
Possessive pronouns in German are words that indicate ownership or possession. They replace nouns and show that something belongs to someone. For instance:
 
* '''my''' (mein)
 
* '''your''' (dein)
 
* '''his''' (sein)
 
* '''her''' (ihr)
 
* '''our''' (unser)
 
* '''your (plural/formal)''' (euer/Ihr)
 
* '''their''' (ihr)
 
In German, these pronouns must agree with the gender and case of the noun they are describing. This means we need to consider whether the noun is masculine, feminine, neuter, or plural, and whether it's in the nominative, accusative, dative, or genitive case.
 
=== Gender and Cases ===
 
German nouns have three genders: '''masculine''', '''feminine''', and '''neuter'''. Each gender has a specific possessive pronoun form. Here’s a quick overview of how possessive pronouns change according to gender and case:
 
==== Nominative Case ====
 
The nominative case is used for the subject of a sentence.
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
! Pronoun !! Masculine !! Feminine !! Neuter !! Plural
 
|-
 
| my || mein || meine || mein || meine
 
|-
 
| your (informal) || dein || deine || dein || deine
 
|-
 
| his || sein || seine || sein || seine
 
|-
 
| her || ihr || ihre || ihr || ihre
 
|-
 
| our || unser || unsere || unser || unsere
 
|-
 
| your (formal/plural) || Ihr || Ihre || Ihr || Ihre
 
|-
 
| their || ihr || ihre || ihr || ihre
 
|}
 
==== Accusative Case ====
 
The accusative case is used for the direct object of a sentence.
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
! Pronoun !! Masculine !! Feminine !! Neuter !! Plural
 
|-
 
| my || meinen || meine || mein || meine
 
|-
 
| your (informal) || deinen || deine || dein || deine
 
|-
 
| his || seinen || seine || sein || seine
 
|-
 
| her || ihren || ihre || ihr || ihre
 
|-
 
| our || unseren || unsere || unser || unsere
 
|-
 
| your (formal/plural) || Ihren || Ihre || Ihr || Ihre
 
|-
 
| their || ihren || ihre || ihr || ihre
 
|}
 
==== Dative Case ====
 
The dative case is used for the indirect object of a sentence.
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
! Pronoun !! Masculine !! Feminine !! Neuter !! Plural
 
|-
 
| my || meinem || meiner || meinem || meinen
 
|-
 
| your (informal) || deinem || deiner || deinem || deinen
 
|-
 
| his || seinem || seiner || seinem || seinen
 
|-
 
| her || ihrem || ihrer || ihrem || ihren
 
|-
 
| our || unserem || unserer || unserem || unseren
 
|-
 
| your (formal/plural) || Ihrem || Ihrer || Ihrem || Ihren
 
|-
 
| their || ihrem || ihrer || ihrem || ihren
 
|}
 
==== Genitive Case ====
 
The genitive case shows ownership.
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
! Pronoun !! Masculine !! Feminine !! Neuter !! Plural
 
|-
 
| my || meines || meiner || meines || meiner
 
|-
 
| your (informal) || deines || deiner || deines || deiner
 
|-
 
| his || seines || seiner || seines || seiner
 
|-
 
| her || ihres || ihrer || ihres || ihrer
 
|-
 
| our || unseres || unserer || unseres || unserer
 
|-
 
| your (formal/plural) || Ihres || Ihrer || Ihres || Ihrer
 
|-
 
| their || ihres || ihrer || ihres || ihrer
 
|}
 
=== Examples of Possessive Pronouns in Sentences ===
 
To help you grasp the use of possessive pronouns, here are 20 examples that demonstrate how they fit into sentences.
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
! German !! Pronunciation !! English
 
|-
 
| Das ist mein Buch. || Das ist main Buch. || This is my book.
 
|-
 
| Ist das dein Auto? || Ist das dain Auto? || Is that your car?
 
|-
 
| Sein Hund ist sehr süß. || Zain Hund ist zehr süß. || His dog is very cute.
 
|-
 
| Ihr Kleid ist schön. || Ir Kleid ist schön. || Her dress is beautiful.
 
|-
 
| Unser Haus ist groß. || Unza Haus ist gross. || Our house is big.
 
|-
 
| Ist das euer Lehrer? || Ist das oyer Lehrer? || Is that your (plural) teacher?
 
|-
 
| Ihr Hund ist freundlich. || Ir Hund ist freundlich. || Their dog is friendly.
 
|-
 
| Das ist nicht mein Problem. || Das ist nicht main Problem. || That is not my problem.
 
|-
 
| Ich mag deine Idee. || Ich mag dainah Idee. || I like your idea.
 
|-
 
| Sein Zimmer ist ordentlich. || Zain Zimmer ist ordentlish. || His room is tidy.
 
|-
 
| Ihr Buch ist interessant. || Ir Buch ist interessant. || Her book is interesting.
 
|-
 
| Unser Garten ist schön. || Unza Garten ist schön. || Our garden is beautiful.
 
|-
 
| Wo ist euer Tisch? || Vo ist oyer Tisch? || Where is your (plural) table?
 
|-
 
| Ihr Auto ist neu. || Ir Auto ist noy. || Their car is new.
 
|-
 
| Das ist mein Freund. || Das ist main Freund. || That is my friend.
 
|-
 
| Magst du meine Musik? || Makst du mine Musik? || Do you like my music?
 
|-
 
| Sein Lehrer spricht gut Deutsch. || Zain Lehrer spricht gut Doich. || His teacher speaks good German.
 
|-
 
| Ihre Katze schläft viel. || Ir Katze schlaft feel. || Her cat sleeps a lot.
 
|-
 
| Unser Film war spannend. || Unza Film var spannend. || Our movie was exciting.
 
|-
 
| Wo ist dein Stift? || Vo ist dain Stift? || Where is your pen?
 
|-
 
| Ihr Zimmer ist gemütlich. || Ir Zimmer ist gemutlich. || Their room is cozy.
 
|}
 
=== Exercises to Practice Possessive Pronouns ===
 
Now that we've covered the basics, it's time for you to put your knowledge into practice! Here are 10 exercises to help you apply what you've learned about possessive pronouns.
 
==== Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks ====
 
Fill in the blanks with the correct possessive pronoun.
 
1. Das ist ___ Buch. (my)
 
2. Ist das ___ Hund? (your, informal)
 
3. Wo ist ___ Auto? (her)
 
4. Unser Lehrer ist nett. ___ Lehrerin ist freundlich. (his)
 
5. Ich mag ___ Musik. (their)
 
'''Solutions:'''
 
1. Das ist '''mein''' Buch.
 
2. Ist das '''dein''' Hund?
 
3. Wo ist '''ihr''' Auto?
 
4. Unser Lehrer ist nett. '''Seine''' Lehrerin ist freundlich.
 
5. Ich mag '''ihre''' Musik.
 
==== Exercise 2: Sentence Transformation ====
 
Transform the following sentences by replacing the nouns with the appropriate possessive pronoun.
 
1. Maria hat ein Buch. (Maria = her)
 
2. Peter hat ein Auto. (Peter = his)
 
3. Wir haben einen Hund. (we = our)
 
4. Du hast ein Zimmer. (you = your)
 
5. Die Kinder haben Spielsachen. (the children = their)
 
'''Solutions:'''
 
1. Maria hat '''ihr''' Buch.
 
2. Peter hat '''sein''' Auto.


== What are Possessive Pronouns? ==
3. Wir haben '''unseren''' Hund.


Possessive pronouns are a type of pronoun that indicate possession, ownership, or a relationship between a person or thing and an object or concept. Possessive pronouns replace a noun and agree with the gender and case of the noun they are replacing. They are often used in place of a sentence that contains both a subject and a possessive phrase to make the sentence more concise.
4. Du hast '''dein''' Zimmer.


For example:
5. Die Kinder haben '''ihre''' Spielsachen.
- Possessive phrase: "Der Hund des Nachbarn ist groß." (The neighbor's dog is big.)
- Using a possessive pronoun: "Sein Hund ist groß." (His dog is big.)


In the second sentence, the possessive pronoun "sein" replaces the entire phrase "des Nachbarn," making it more concise.
==== Exercise 3: Translate the Sentences ====


== Forms of Possessive Pronouns ==
Translate the following sentences into German.


Possessive pronouns are declined for gender and case, just like articles and adjectives in German. Here are the forms of possessive pronouns in each gender and case:
1. This is my sister.


=== Masculine Forms ===
2. Is that your (formal) book?


*Nominative Case:
3. Their house is beautiful.
- 'mein' for 'my'
- 'dein' for 'your (singular)'
- 'sein' for 'his'
- 'ihr' for 'her'
- 'unser' for 'our'
- 'euer' for 'your (plural)'
- 'ihr' for 'their'


*Accusative Case
4. Our friends are coming.
- 'meinen' for 'my'
- 'deinen' for 'your (singular)'
- 'seinen' for 'his'
- 'ihren' for 'her'
- 'unseren' for 'our'
- 'euren' for 'your (plural)'
- 'ihren' for 'their'


*Genitive Case
5. Her name is Anna.
- 'meines' for 'my'
- 'deines' for 'your (singular)'
- 'seines' for 'his'
- 'ihrer' for 'her'
- 'unseres' for 'our'
- 'eures' for 'your (plural)'
- 'ihrer' for 'their'


=== Feminine Forms ===
'''Solutions:'''


*Nominative Case:
1. Das ist '''meine''' Schwester.
- 'meine' for 'my'
- 'deine' for 'your (singular)'
- 'seine' for 'his'
- 'ihre' for 'her'
- 'unsere' for 'our'
- 'eure' for 'your (plural)'
- 'ihre' for 'their'


*Accusative Case
2. Ist das '''Ihr''' Buch?
- 'meine' for 'my'
- 'deine' for 'your (singular)'
- 'seine' for 'his'
- 'ihre' for 'her'
- 'unsere' for 'our'
- 'eure' for 'your (plural)'
- 'ihre' for 'their'


*Genitive Case
3. '''Ihr''' Haus ist schön.
- 'meiner' for 'my'
- 'deiner' for 'your (singular)'
- 'seiner' for 'his'
- 'ihrer' for 'her'
- 'unserer' for 'our'
- 'eurer' for 'your (plural)'
- 'ihrer' for 'their'


=== Neuter Forms ===
4. '''Unsere''' Freunde kommen.


*Nominative Case:
5. '''Ihr''' Name ist Anna.
- 'mein' for 'my'
- 'dein' for 'your (singular)'
- 'sein' for 'his'
- 'ihr' for 'her'
- 'unser' for 'our'
- 'euer' for 'your (plural)'
- 'ihr' for 'their'


*Accusative Case
==== Exercise 4: Matching Pronouns ====
- 'mein' for 'my'
- 'dein' for 'your (singular)'
- 'sein' for 'his'
- 'ihr' for 'her'
- 'unser' for 'our'
- 'euer' for 'your (plural)'
- 'ihr' for 'their'


*Genitive Case
Match the pronouns with the correct noun.
- 'meines' for 'my'
- 'deines' for 'your (singular)'
- 'seines' for 'his'
- 'ihrer' for 'her'
- 'unseres' for 'our'
- 'eures' for 'your (plural)'
- 'ihrer' for 'their'


== Usage of Possessive Pronouns ==
1. mein  →  a) ________ (your, informal)


Possessive pronouns are used to indicate ownership or a close relationship between a person or thing and an object. They replace a noun and agree with the gender and case of the noun they are replacing.
2. unser  →  b) ________ (their)


For example:
3. sein  →  c) ________ (my)
- "Ich trage meinen Hut." (I'm wearing my hat.)
- "Er zeigt ihr seinen Hund." (He's showing her his dog.)


In the first sentence, the masculine possessive pronoun "meinen" agrees with the masculine noun "Hut" in the accusative case. In the second sentence, the feminine possessive pronoun "ihren" agrees with the feminine noun "Frau" in the dative case and the masculine possessive pronoun "seinen" agrees with the masculine noun "Hund" in the accusative case.
4. ihr    →  d) ________ (our)


== Exceptions and Special Cases ==
5. euer  →  e) ________ (his)


Like with any rule in German grammar, there are exceptions and special cases to keep in mind when using possessive pronouns.
'''Solutions:'''


- When used with nouns that have no article (in particular, plurals and mass nouns), the possessive pronoun takes the article's place. For example: "Wir trinken unseren Wein." (We are drinking our wine.)
1. mein  →  c) my


- If the possessive pronoun precedes a noun with an article, the article and the possessive pronoun must agree in gender, number, and case. For example: "Die Mädchen und ihre Mutter." (The girls and their mother.)
2. unser  →  d) our


- In the case of feminine and neuter nouns with the suffix "-lein" or "-chen," the possessive pronoun agrees with the original gender of the noun, not the gender implied by the suffix. For example: "Das Fräulein und ihr Kleid" (The young lady and her dress) uses "ihr" instead of "sein" because "Fräulein" is a feminine noun.
3. sein  →  e) his


- Possessive pronouns are often used in conjunction with reflexive pronouns to indicate a close relationship between a person and an action performed by or relating to that person. For example: "Er wäscht sich die Hände." (He's washing his hands.) The reflexive pronoun "sich" is used in combination with the masculine possessive pronoun "seine" to indicate that the action is being performed by the same person as the one being referred to.
4. ihr    →  b) their


== Practice Examples ==
5. euer  →  a) your, informal


To practice using possessive pronouns, try forming sentences with the examples below:
==== Exercise 5: Create Your Sentences ====


* My mother's car: "Das ist _____ Mutter Auto."
Create sentences using the following possessive pronouns.
* Our house: "Das ist _____ Haus."
* Her favorite book: "Das ist _____ liebstes Buch."
* Their cats: "Das sind _____ Katzen."
* His dog's tail: "Das ist _____ Hund Schwanz."


1. mein


<span class='maj'></span>
2. dein
==Sources==
 
* [https://www.fluentu.com/blog/german/possessive-pronouns-german/ To Each Their Own: Take Ownership of German Possessive Pronouns]
3. sein
* [https://germanwithlaura.com/possessive-pronouns/ German Possessive Pronouns: Your Essential Guide]
 
* [https://study.com/academy/lesson/german-possessive-pronouns.html German Possessive Pronouns | Study.com]
4. ihr
 
5. unser
 
'''Sample Solutions:'''
 
1. Das ist '''mein''' Laptop.
 
2. Ist das '''dein''' Stuhl?
 
3. '''Sein''' Hund ist freundlich.
 
4. '''Ihr''' Kleid ist rot.
 
5. '''Unser''' Garten ist klein.
 
==== Exercise 6: Identify the Case ====
 
Identify the case of the possessive pronoun used in the following sentences.
 
1. Das ist mein Buch.
 
2. Ich sehe deine Katze.
 
3. Ihr Lehrer ist nett.
 
4. Wir besuchen unseren Freund.
 
5. Wo ist euer Haus?
 
'''Solutions:'''
 
1. Nominative
 
2. Accusative
 
3. Nominative
 
4. Accusative
 
5. Nominative
 
==== Exercise 7: Change the Gender ====
 
Change the possessive pronoun to fit the gender of the noun.
 
1. mein (to fit 'Frau')
 
2. dein (to fit 'Mann')
 
3. ihr (to fit 'Kind')
 
4. unser (to fit 'Eltern')
 
5. sein (to fit 'Tochter')
 
'''Solutions:'''
 
1. '''meine''' (Frau = feminine)
 
2. '''dein''' (Mann = masculine)
 
3. '''ihr''' (Kind = neuter)
 
4. '''unsere''' (Eltern = plural)
 
5. '''seine''' (Tochter = feminine)
 
==== Exercise 8: Write the Opposite ====
 
Write the opposite of the following sentences using possessive pronouns.
 
1. Das ist mein Hund.
 
2. Das ist ihr Auto.
 
3. Das ist unser Buch.
 
4. Das ist dein Stift.
 
5. Das ist seine Tasche.
 
'''Solutions:'''
 
1. Das ist '''dein''' Hund.
 
2. Das ist '''mein''' Auto.
 
3. Das ist '''euer''' Buch.
 
4. Das ist '''mein''' Stift.
 
5. Das ist '''ihre''' Tasche.
 
==== Exercise 9: Choose the Correct Pronoun ====
 
Choose the correct possessive pronoun to complete the sentences.
 
1. Das ist ___ (mein/dein) Freund.
 
2. Wo ist ___ (dein/ihr) Buch?
 
3. Ich habe ___ (unser/sein) Auto.
 
4. Ist das ___ (ihr/unser) Katze?
 
5. Wo sind ___ (eure/ihre) Spielsachen?
 
'''Solutions:'''
 
1. Das ist '''mein''' Freund.
 
2. Wo ist '''dein''' Buch?
 
3. Ich habe '''sein''' Auto.
 
4. Ist das '''ihre''' Katze?
 
5. Wo sind '''eure''' Spielsachen?
 
==== Exercise 10: Rewrite the Sentences ====
 
Rewrite the following sentences using the correct possessive pronoun.
 
1. Maria hat das Buch. (her)
 
2. Peter hat einen Hund. (his)
 
3. Wir haben die Tafel. (our)
 
4. Du hast die Stühle. (your)
 
5. Die Mädchen haben die Spielsachen. (their)
 
'''Solutions:'''
 
1. Maria hat '''ihr''' Buch.
 
2. Peter hat '''seinen''' Hund.
 
3. Wir haben '''unsere''' Tafel.
 
4. Du hast '''deine''' Stühle.
 
5. Die Mädchen haben '''ihre''' Spielsachen.
 
As you can see, possessive pronouns are an essential part of expressing relationships and ownership in German. They may seem tricky at first, but with practice, you'll master them in no time! Keep practicing, and don't hesitate to refer back to this lesson whenever you need a refresher.


{{#seo:
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|title=German Grammar: Possessive Pronouns
|description=In this lesson, you will learn everything you need to know about possessive pronouns in German, including their forms and usage for different genders and cases. Practice with our examples for a solid foundation in German grammar.
 
|keywords=German, grammar, possessive pronouns, learn German, A1 level
 
|description=In this lesson, you will learn about possessive pronouns in German, including their usage across different genders and cases, along with practical exercises.
 
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==Videos==
==Videos==
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==Related Lessons==
 
==Sources==
* [https://www.fluentu.com/blog/german/possessive-pronouns-german/ To Each Their Own: Take Ownership of German Possessive Pronouns]
* [https://germanwithlaura.com/possessive-pronouns/ German Possessive Pronouns: Your Essential Guide]
* [https://study.com/academy/lesson/german-possessive-pronouns.html German Possessive Pronouns | Study.com]
 
 
 
==Other Lessons==
* [[Language/German/Grammar/Declension|Declension]]
* [[Language/German/Grammar/Declension|Declension]]
* [[Language/German/Grammar/Definite-Articles-in-German|Definite Articles in German]]
* [[Language/German/Grammar/Definite-Articles-in-German|Definite Articles in German]]
Line 191: Line 615:
* [[Language/German/Grammar/Personal-Pronouns|Personal Pronouns]]
* [[Language/German/Grammar/Personal-Pronouns|Personal Pronouns]]
* [[Language/German/Grammar/Cases|Cases]]
* [[Language/German/Grammar/Cases|Cases]]


{{German-Page-Bottom}}
{{German-Page-Bottom}}
<span pgnav>
{| class="wikitable pg_template_nav"
|[[Language/German/Grammar/Personal-Pronouns|◀️ Personal Pronouns — Previous Lesson]]
|[[Language/German/Vocabulary/Booking-a-Trip|Next Lesson — Booking a Trip ▶️]]
|}
</span>

Latest revision as of 18:28, 31 July 2024

◀️ Personal Pronouns — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Booking a Trip ▶️

German-Language-PolyglotClub.jpg
German → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Possessive Pronouns

Welcome to our lesson on Possessive Pronouns in German! Understanding possessive pronouns is crucial as they help you express ownership and relationships in both casual conversations and more formal contexts. Imagine wanting to say, "This is my book" or "Is that your friend?" – possessive pronouns make these sentences clear and concise.

In this lesson, we will explore:

  • What possessive pronouns are
  • How they change according to gender and case
  • A variety of examples to illustrate their use
  • Exercises to practice what you've learned

So, let’s dive right in!

What are Possessive Pronouns?[edit | edit source]

Possessive pronouns in German are words that indicate ownership or possession. They replace nouns and show that something belongs to someone. For instance:

  • my (mein)
  • your (dein)
  • his (sein)
  • her (ihr)
  • our (unser)
  • your (plural/formal) (euer/Ihr)
  • their (ihr)

In German, these pronouns must agree with the gender and case of the noun they are describing. This means we need to consider whether the noun is masculine, feminine, neuter, or plural, and whether it's in the nominative, accusative, dative, or genitive case.

Gender and Cases[edit | edit source]

German nouns have three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. Each gender has a specific possessive pronoun form. Here’s a quick overview of how possessive pronouns change according to gender and case:

Nominative Case[edit | edit source]

The nominative case is used for the subject of a sentence.

Pronoun Masculine Feminine Neuter Plural
my mein meine mein meine
your (informal) dein deine dein deine
his sein seine sein seine
her ihr ihre ihr ihre
our unser unsere unser unsere
your (formal/plural) Ihr Ihre Ihr Ihre
their ihr ihre ihr ihre

Accusative Case[edit | edit source]

The accusative case is used for the direct object of a sentence.

Pronoun Masculine Feminine Neuter Plural
my meinen meine mein meine
your (informal) deinen deine dein deine
his seinen seine sein seine
her ihren ihre ihr ihre
our unseren unsere unser unsere
your (formal/plural) Ihren Ihre Ihr Ihre
their ihren ihre ihr ihre

Dative Case[edit | edit source]

The dative case is used for the indirect object of a sentence.

Pronoun Masculine Feminine Neuter Plural
my meinem meiner meinem meinen
your (informal) deinem deiner deinem deinen
his seinem seiner seinem seinen
her ihrem ihrer ihrem ihren
our unserem unserer unserem unseren
your (formal/plural) Ihrem Ihrer Ihrem Ihren
their ihrem ihrer ihrem ihren

Genitive Case[edit | edit source]

The genitive case shows ownership.

Pronoun Masculine Feminine Neuter Plural
my meines meiner meines meiner
your (informal) deines deiner deines deiner
his seines seiner seines seiner
her ihres ihrer ihres ihrer
our unseres unserer unseres unserer
your (formal/plural) Ihres Ihrer Ihres Ihrer
their ihres ihrer ihres ihrer

Examples of Possessive Pronouns in Sentences[edit | edit source]

To help you grasp the use of possessive pronouns, here are 20 examples that demonstrate how they fit into sentences.

German Pronunciation English
Das ist mein Buch. Das ist main Buch. This is my book.
Ist das dein Auto? Ist das dain Auto? Is that your car?
Sein Hund ist sehr süß. Zain Hund ist zehr süß. His dog is very cute.
Ihr Kleid ist schön. Ir Kleid ist schön. Her dress is beautiful.
Unser Haus ist groß. Unza Haus ist gross. Our house is big.
Ist das euer Lehrer? Ist das oyer Lehrer? Is that your (plural) teacher?
Ihr Hund ist freundlich. Ir Hund ist freundlich. Their dog is friendly.
Das ist nicht mein Problem. Das ist nicht main Problem. That is not my problem.
Ich mag deine Idee. Ich mag dainah Idee. I like your idea.
Sein Zimmer ist ordentlich. Zain Zimmer ist ordentlish. His room is tidy.
Ihr Buch ist interessant. Ir Buch ist interessant. Her book is interesting.
Unser Garten ist schön. Unza Garten ist schön. Our garden is beautiful.
Wo ist euer Tisch? Vo ist oyer Tisch? Where is your (plural) table?
Ihr Auto ist neu. Ir Auto ist noy. Their car is new.
Das ist mein Freund. Das ist main Freund. That is my friend.
Magst du meine Musik? Makst du mine Musik? Do you like my music?
Sein Lehrer spricht gut Deutsch. Zain Lehrer spricht gut Doich. His teacher speaks good German.
Ihre Katze schläft viel. Ir Katze schlaft feel. Her cat sleeps a lot.
Unser Film war spannend. Unza Film var spannend. Our movie was exciting.
Wo ist dein Stift? Vo ist dain Stift? Where is your pen?
Ihr Zimmer ist gemütlich. Ir Zimmer ist gemutlich. Their room is cozy.

Exercises to Practice Possessive Pronouns[edit | edit source]

Now that we've covered the basics, it's time for you to put your knowledge into practice! Here are 10 exercises to help you apply what you've learned about possessive pronouns.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks[edit | edit source]

Fill in the blanks with the correct possessive pronoun.

1. Das ist ___ Buch. (my)

2. Ist das ___ Hund? (your, informal)

3. Wo ist ___ Auto? (her)

4. Unser Lehrer ist nett. ___ Lehrerin ist freundlich. (his)

5. Ich mag ___ Musik. (their)

Solutions:

1. Das ist mein Buch.

2. Ist das dein Hund?

3. Wo ist ihr Auto?

4. Unser Lehrer ist nett. Seine Lehrerin ist freundlich.

5. Ich mag ihre Musik.

Exercise 2: Sentence Transformation[edit | edit source]

Transform the following sentences by replacing the nouns with the appropriate possessive pronoun.

1. Maria hat ein Buch. (Maria = her)

2. Peter hat ein Auto. (Peter = his)

3. Wir haben einen Hund. (we = our)

4. Du hast ein Zimmer. (you = your)

5. Die Kinder haben Spielsachen. (the children = their)

Solutions:

1. Maria hat ihr Buch.

2. Peter hat sein Auto.

3. Wir haben unseren Hund.

4. Du hast dein Zimmer.

5. Die Kinder haben ihre Spielsachen.

Exercise 3: Translate the Sentences[edit | edit source]

Translate the following sentences into German.

1. This is my sister.

2. Is that your (formal) book?

3. Their house is beautiful.

4. Our friends are coming.

5. Her name is Anna.

Solutions:

1. Das ist meine Schwester.

2. Ist das Ihr Buch?

3. Ihr Haus ist schön.

4. Unsere Freunde kommen.

5. Ihr Name ist Anna.

Exercise 4: Matching Pronouns[edit | edit source]

Match the pronouns with the correct noun.

1. mein → a) ________ (your, informal)

2. unser → b) ________ (their)

3. sein → c) ________ (my)

4. ihr → d) ________ (our)

5. euer → e) ________ (his)

Solutions:

1. mein → c) my

2. unser → d) our

3. sein → e) his

4. ihr → b) their

5. euer → a) your, informal

Exercise 5: Create Your Sentences[edit | edit source]

Create sentences using the following possessive pronouns.

1. mein

2. dein

3. sein

4. ihr

5. unser

Sample Solutions:

1. Das ist mein Laptop.

2. Ist das dein Stuhl?

3. Sein Hund ist freundlich.

4. Ihr Kleid ist rot.

5. Unser Garten ist klein.

Exercise 6: Identify the Case[edit | edit source]

Identify the case of the possessive pronoun used in the following sentences.

1. Das ist mein Buch.

2. Ich sehe deine Katze.

3. Ihr Lehrer ist nett.

4. Wir besuchen unseren Freund.

5. Wo ist euer Haus?

Solutions:

1. Nominative

2. Accusative

3. Nominative

4. Accusative

5. Nominative

Exercise 7: Change the Gender[edit | edit source]

Change the possessive pronoun to fit the gender of the noun.

1. mein (to fit 'Frau')

2. dein (to fit 'Mann')

3. ihr (to fit 'Kind')

4. unser (to fit 'Eltern')

5. sein (to fit 'Tochter')

Solutions:

1. meine (Frau = feminine)

2. dein (Mann = masculine)

3. ihr (Kind = neuter)

4. unsere (Eltern = plural)

5. seine (Tochter = feminine)

Exercise 8: Write the Opposite[edit | edit source]

Write the opposite of the following sentences using possessive pronouns.

1. Das ist mein Hund.

2. Das ist ihr Auto.

3. Das ist unser Buch.

4. Das ist dein Stift.

5. Das ist seine Tasche.

Solutions:

1. Das ist dein Hund.

2. Das ist mein Auto.

3. Das ist euer Buch.

4. Das ist mein Stift.

5. Das ist ihre Tasche.

Exercise 9: Choose the Correct Pronoun[edit | edit source]

Choose the correct possessive pronoun to complete the sentences.

1. Das ist ___ (mein/dein) Freund.

2. Wo ist ___ (dein/ihr) Buch?

3. Ich habe ___ (unser/sein) Auto.

4. Ist das ___ (ihr/unser) Katze?

5. Wo sind ___ (eure/ihre) Spielsachen?

Solutions:

1. Das ist mein Freund.

2. Wo ist dein Buch?

3. Ich habe sein Auto.

4. Ist das ihre Katze?

5. Wo sind eure Spielsachen?

Exercise 10: Rewrite the Sentences[edit | edit source]

Rewrite the following sentences using the correct possessive pronoun.

1. Maria hat das Buch. (her)

2. Peter hat einen Hund. (his)

3. Wir haben die Tafel. (our)

4. Du hast die Stühle. (your)

5. Die Mädchen haben die Spielsachen. (their)

Solutions:

1. Maria hat ihr Buch.

2. Peter hat seinen Hund.

3. Wir haben unsere Tafel.

4. Du hast deine Stühle.

5. Die Mädchen haben ihre Spielsachen.

As you can see, possessive pronouns are an essential part of expressing relationships and ownership in German. They may seem tricky at first, but with practice, you'll master them in no time! Keep practicing, and don't hesitate to refer back to this lesson whenever you need a refresher.

Table of Contents - German Course - 0 to A1[edit source]


Basic Sentence Structures


Greetings and Introduction


Definite and Indefinite Articles


Numbers, Dates and Time


Verbs and Conjugation


Family and Friends


Prepositions


Food and Drinks


Germany and German-Speaking Countries


Pronouns and Possessives


Travel and Transportation


Modal Verbs


Shopping and Clothes


Music and Entertainment


Adjectives


Health and Body


Time and Temporal Prepositions

Videos[edit | edit source]

German Possessive Adjectives (Nominative and Accusative ...[edit | edit source]

Learn German | Possessive Pronouns | Nominative case - YouTube[edit | edit source]

Learn German | Possessive Pronouns | Accusative case - YouTube[edit | edit source]

German Pronouns L5 - Possessive Pronouns - YouTube[edit | edit source]


Sources[edit | edit source]


Other Lessons[edit | edit source]



◀️ Personal Pronouns — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Booking a Trip ▶️

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