Showing ownership is essential in any language. In German, this is done using German possessive pronouns (Possessivpronomen). Words like mein (my), dein (your), sein (his/its), and ihr (her/their/Your formal) are fundamental components of German grammar.

However, unlike their English counterparts, German possessive pronouns (often acting as determiners, also called Possessivartikel) must change their endings! This involves changes in endings, which depend on the gender, number, and case of the noun being possessed. This guide focuses specifically on their use in the Nominative case, which is used for the subject of a sentence.

Mastering the Nominative forms is a crucial first step when you learn German online.

The Basic German Possessive Pronouns

First, let's identify the base forms corresponding to English possessives:

Possessive Pronouns in the Nominative Case

In the **Nominative case**, possessive pronouns behave very similarly to the indefinite article ein (a/an) and the negative article kein (no/not a).

Rule: The ending of a possessive pronoun in the Nominative case depends entirely on the gender (masculine, feminine, neuter) and number (singular, plural) of the NOUN IT POSSESSES.

The endings match the endings of ein and kein in the Nominative:

• Masculine Singular (der-words): No ending (like ein, kein)
• Feminine Singular (die-words): Add -e (like eine, keine)
• Neuter Singular (das-words): No ending (like ein, kein)
• Plural (die-words): Add -e (like eine, keine)

Nominative Possessive Pronoun Table

This table summarizes the endings for possessive pronouns used as determiners (before a noun) specifically in the **Nominative case**. Find the row for the owner (mein, dein, etc.) and the column for the gender/number of the noun being possessed.

Example Usage: To say "my house" (das Haus, neuter), use mein. To say "my car" (der Wagen, masculine), use mein. To say "my sister" (die Schwester, feminine), use meine Schwester. To say "my parents" (die Eltern, plural), use meine Eltern.

The form of the possessive pronoun is always determined by the noun that follows it (the thing being possessed) and whether that noun is the subject of the sentence (Nominative).

Common Confusion Points in the Nominative

1. sein vs. ihr

Even in the Nominative, distinguishing between these is important. Remember:

• sein (and its Nominative forms sein, seine) refers to a masculine or neuter owner. The ending depends on the possessed noun.
  • Sein Bruder ist hier. (His brother is here. - Bruder is masc. nom.)
  • Seine Schwester ist nett. (His/Its sister is nice. - Schwester is fem. nom.)
  • Sein Kind spielt. (His/Its child is playing. - Kind is neut. nom.)
• ihr (and its Nominative forms ihr, ihre) refers to a feminine owner OR plural owner (they) OR formal owner (Sie). The ending depends on the possessed noun.
  • Ihre Mutter ist Ärztin. (Her mother is a doctor. - Mutter is fem. nom.)
  • Ihr Vater ist Lehrer. (Her/Their/Your father is a teacher. - Vater is masc. nom.)
  • Ihre Kinder sind groß. (Her/Their/Your children are big. - Kinder is plural nom.)

The ending (`-e` or no ending) depends on the possessed noun, but the choice between sein and ihr depends on the owner!

2. euer -> eur-

When euer (your - plural informal) needs the Nominative ending -e (for feminine or plural nouns), the -e- before the -r drops, as shown in the table.

• euer Auto (Nom. Neut.)
• euer Freund (Nom. Masc.)
• BUT: eure Freundin (Nom. Fem.)
• BUT: eure Freunde (Nom. Plural)

Rule: euer + -e ending = eur + -e ending (e.g., eure), but it stays euer when no ending is needed (Nom. Masc./Neut.).

Tips for Mastering Nominative Possessives

1. Learn the Base Forms: Know mein, dein, sein, ihr, unser, euer, ihr, Ihr and who they refer to.
2. Use the Nominative Table: Refer to the table above frequently until the patterns become familiar. Notice the similarities to `ein/kein` endings in the Nominative.
3. Focus on the Possessed Noun: Always determine the gender and number of the *owned item* to choose the correct Nominative ending (`-e` or no ending).
4. Drill sein vs. ihr: Actively practice creating sentences where 'his', 'her', 'their', or 'Your' is the subject's possessive, paying attention to the owner.
5. Watch out for euer -> eur-: Remember the contraction when adding the Nominative feminine or plural ending (`eure`).
6. Practice with Nominative Subjects: Create simple sentences where the possessed noun is the subject (e.g., Meine Katze schläft. - My cat is sleeping. Sein Hund bellt. - His dog is barking.).

Conclusion: Mastering the Nominative

Understanding and correctly using German possessive pronouns in the Nominative case is a fundamental step. It primarily requires identifying the gender and number of the noun being possessed and applying the simple `-e` ending for feminine and plural nouns.

If you would like to learn about using possessive pronouns in the Accusative, Dative, and Genitive cases (as objects or after specific prepositions), please see this article.

Viel Erfolg beim Meistern der Possessivpronomen im Nominativ!