Prepositions in German: Possession Prepositions

Learning prepositions in German is an essential step in mastering the language. Prepositions are words that link two elements of a sentence, giving them a meaning relationship. In this chapter of our course, we will focus on prepositions of possession.

The Prepositions of Possession in German

Prepositions of possession, as the name suggests, are used to express ownership or belonging. They are crucial for building correct and coherent sentences. Here are the most common ones:

• Von: Translated as 'de' in English, 'von' is the most common possessive preposition in German. It is used to indicate ownership or origin of something. For example, 'Das Buch von Maria' (The Book of Mary).
• Mit: This preposition means 'with'. It is used to indicate joint ownership with another person. For example, 'Das Haus mit dem großen Garten' (The house with the big garden).
• Ohne: It means 'without'. It is used to indicate the absence of possession. For example, 'Ein Leben ohne Liebe' (A life without love).

Use of Possession Prepositions

Prepositions of possession in German are used a little differently than we are used to in English. In German, the preposition of possession comes before the noun possessed. For example, 'Das Buch von Maria' (The Book of Mary). Here, the preposition 'von' comes before the noun 'Buch' (book).

Another peculiarity of possessive prepositions in German is that they require the use of the genitive case. The genitive case is used to indicate ownership in German. For example, 'Das Buch des Mannes' (The Book of Man). Here, 'des Mannes' is in the genitive case.

Example Sentences with Possession Prepositions

Here are some examples of German sentences using prepositions of possession:

• Das ist das Auto von Peter. (This is Peter's car.)
• Ich gehe mit meinem Hund spazieren. (I'm walking my dog.)
• Er lebt ein Leben ohne Freude. (He lives a joyless life.)

Conclusion

German possession prepositions are an important part of German grammar. They allow you to express ownership and belonging in a clear and precise way. Although their usage may seem a little different from Portuguese, with practice and study you will be able to use them correctly.

We hope that this chapter has given you a good introduction to German possessive prepositions. Keep practicing and reviewing this material, and you'll soon feel comfortable using them in your everyday German conversations.

Remember, the key to learning a new language is constant practice. So keep practicing and you'll see significant improvements in your German skills.