| 13.2.3 Some preposition that require the Genitive |
| preposition |
| during |  |
|
| despite | |
|
| because of | |
| Fritz does nothing | preposition | definite article | indefinite article |
| Fritz macht nichts | während | des Besuches | eines Besuches |
| trotz | der Besuche | einiger Besuche | |
| wegen | der Feier | einer Feier | |
| der Feiern | einiger Feiern | ||
| des Abendessens | eines Abendessens | ||
| der Abendessen | einiger Abendessen | ||
As you can see, the object that follows the preposition
has to be declined according to the Genitive-declination.
More details on prepositions you'll find in chapter 19
- more prepositions.
Fritz macht nichts wegen des Kindes. = Fritz does nothing because of the child.
Fritz macht nichts trotz des Abendessens. = Fritz does nothing despite the dinner.
Fritz macht nichts während einer Feier. = Fritz does nothing during a party.
Fritz macht nichts trotz des Regens. = Fritz does nothing despite the rain.
Während des Abendessens sprechen sie nicht viel. = During the dinner they don't talk much.
Während des Spazierganges lachen sie viel. = During the promenade they laugh a lot.
With most of the prepositions the Genitive is only used if there is an inflected pronoun (except for personal pronouns!), an adjective or an article between preposition and noun. Otherwise the Dative is used. This is especially noticeable when personal pronoun e.g.:
Fritz macht alles wegen
seines Sohnes (Gentitiv).
= Fritz does everything because
of his son.
Fritz macht alles wegen
ihm (Dative).
= Because of him
Fritz does everything.
Wir gehen nach Hause nur wegen
einer Person (Genitive).
= We go home only because
of one person.
Wir gehen nach Hause nur wegen
Dir. = We go home
only because of you.
These few examples just show the principle. All the
prepositions that require the Genitive work the same.
