Possessive Pronouns in German – What You Need to Know?

Possessive pronouns are another important part of German grammar. They indicate possession or ownership and always come before a noun. Their correct use requires considering the grammatical gender, number, and case of the noun. Below is a simple explanation of how to use these pronouns with practical examples.

Basic Rules of Possessive Pronouns

In German, possessive pronouns change form depending on the person they refer to. For example:

• mein, meine – my
• dein, deine – your
• sein, seine – his
• ihr, ihre – her, their
• unser, unsere – our
• euer, eure – your (plural)
• Ihr, Ihre – your (formal)

Each pronoun must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies.

Mein, meine – Examples

mein, meine – my

• mein Sohn (masculine, singular) – my son
• meine Tochter (feminine, singular) – my daughter
• mein Haus (neuter, singular) – my house
• meine Schüler (all genders, plural) – my students

Ihr, Ihre – Differences in Capitalization

The pronouns Ihr, Ihre capitalized are polite forms, referring to “your” (formal), while in lowercase, they refer to “her” or “their.” Examples:

• Ihr Sohn – your (formal) son
• ihr Sohn – her/their son
• Ihre Tochter – your (formal) daughter
• ihre Tochter – her/their daughter

Sein, seine – Examples

sein, seine – his

• der Vater und sein Sohn – the father and his son
• der Bruder und seine Tochter – the brother and his daughter
• der Freund und sein Kind – the friend and his child
• der Schüler und seine Hefte – the student and his notebooks

Unser, unsere – Examples

unser, unsere – our

• Unser Sohn arbeitet in einem Büro. – Our son works in an office.
• Unsere Tochter ist Verkäuferin. – Our daughter is a saleswoman.
• Unser Kind ist 3 Jahre alt. – Our child is 3 years old.
• Unsere Kinder gehen zur Schule. – Our children go to school.

Euer, eure – Examples

euer, eure – your (plural)

• euer Sohn (masculine, singular) – your son
• eure Tochter (feminine, singular) – your daughter
• euer Haus (neuter, singular) – your house
• eure Kinder (all genders, plural) – your children

Possessive Pronouns Table

The following table shows the full set of possessive pronouns in German:

Important Notes About Possessive Pronouns

1. No Equivalent for “Swój” in Polish – In German, there is no pronoun equivalent to the Polish “swój”. You must use the appropriate possessive pronoun based on the person, e.g., Er nimmt sein Buch. (He takes his book.) Poles often confuse the use of “sein” (his) for “swój”. To avoid mistakes, determine whether the possessive pronoun refers to the subject. In that case, the equivalent would be “swój,” whereas if it refers to something else, it would be “my,” “your,” etc. For example:
   Ich sehe deinen Freund. – I see your friend.
   Sie sieht seinen Freund. – She sees his friend. (The pronoun does not refer to the subject.)
2. Avoid Agreement Errors – Always make sure the possessive pronoun agrees with the gender of the noun. For example: Sein Auto (his car, neuter) vs. Seine Mutter (his mother, feminine).
3. Possessive pronouns are usually not translated into Polish or are replaced by “swój,” e.g.:
   Wie ist ihr Vorname? – What is her first name?
   Sie besucht ihre Freundin. – She visits (her) friend.
   Bernd geht mit seinem Vater in die Schule. – Bernd goes to school with his father. (The pronoun refers to the subject.)
4. In German, it’s necessary to express the idea of having one’s own car, daughter, or an essential item, which is often implicit in Polish. For example:
   Er trinkt seinen Kaffee. – He drinks his coffee.
   Er geht mit seiner Tochter in die Stadt. – He goes to the city with his daughter.
   Er fährt mit seinem Auto. – He drives his car.

Summary

Possessive pronouns in German may seem difficult at first, but their regular use in practice helps to master them quickly. Remember to match the pronoun with the gender, number, and case of the noun, and pay attention to subtle differences in meaning. Learning possessive pronouns is a crucial step on the path to fluency in German. Start with the course “Niemiecki A1. Kein Problem!” to effectively master them.