Objective And Subjective Genitive

Level 6

When a noun ending in -s modifies a noun derived from a verb (like 'attack' or 'destruction'), it can represent either the person performing the action or the thing receiving it.

How It Works

In Danish, the genitive -s is often used with verbal nouns (nouns that describe an action, often ending in -ning or -else).

1. Subjective Genitive (Subjektiv genitiv)
This is the most common form. The noun with the -s is the one doing the action.
Example: Barnets leg (The child's play). The child is playing.

2. Objective Genitive (Objektiv genitiv)
The noun with the -s is the object of the action. This is more formal and literary in modern Danish.
Example: Morderens pågribelse (The murderer's apprehension). The police apprehend the murderer; the murderer does not apprehend anyone.

3. Ambiguity and Modern Usage
Some phrases are ambiguous. Cæsars drab could mean Caesar killed someone or Caesar was killed. To avoid this, modern Danish prefers prepositional phrases for the objective sense, such as drabet på Cæsar. The objective genitive is increasingly restricted to formal writing or specific set phrases.

4. The 'Group Genitive' Clitic
Danish uses a group genitive, meaning the -s attaches to the end of the entire noun phrase, not just the head noun. Example: [Kongen af Danmark]s overgivelse.

Examples (5)

  1. Fjendens angreb overraskede os.

    The enemy's attack surprised us.

    Word by Word: Enemy's attack surprised us.

    Subjective Genitive: The enemy is the one performing the attack.

  2. Byens ødelæggelse tog mange år.

    The destruction of the city took many years.

    Word by Word: City's destruction took many years.

    Objective Genitive: The city is the thing being destroyed, not the one doing the destroying.

  3. Vi afventer regeringens beslutning.

    We await the government's decision.

    Word by Word: We await government's decision.

    Subjective Genitive: The government is the entity that will make the decision.

  4. Gådens løsning var meget simpel.

    The solution to the riddle was very simple.

    Word by Word: Riddle's solution was very simple.

    Objective Genitive: The riddle is being solved. In casual speech, 'løsningen på gåden' is more common.

  5. Jens' ankomst blev fejret.

    Jens' arrival was celebrated.

    Word by Word: Jens' arrival was celebrated.

    Subjective Genitive: Jens is the one arriving. Note the apostrophe because the name ends in -s.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'double definiteness' with a genitive noun.

    Fjendens angrebet var voldsomt.
    Fjendens angreb var voldsomt.

    In Danish, a genitive noun makes the following noun definite. You must not add the definite suffix (-et/-en) to the head noun. See no double definiteness.

  • Using an apostrophe before the -s for possession.

    Byen's ødelæggelse.
    Byens ødelæggelse.

    Unlike English, Danish does not use an apostrophe before the -s unless the word already ends in s, x, or z.

  • Using 'Guds kærlighed' to mean our love for God.

    Different MeaningGuds kærlighed
    Kærlighed til Gud.

    'Guds kærlighed' is correct, but it usually means God's love for us (subjective). For our love for God (objective), a prepositional phrase is much more natural: kærlighed til Gud.

Words in This Pattern

-s