German Grammar List

Learn how to form the plural of most feminine nouns and specific masculine/neuter nouns using the -(e)n ending.

Learn how to form the plural of many masculine and neuter nouns using the -e suffix.

Learn how to form the plural of nouns using the -er ending and the mandatory umlaut.

Learn when to use the -s plural ending for loanwords, abbreviations, and nouns ending in vowels.

Learn how articles change when a noun becomes the direct object in a German sentence.

Learn how to use adjectives after linking verbs without adding any endings.

Learn how to correctly add endings to adjectives when they appear before a noun.

Learn the fundamental 'Verb-Second' rule that governs how German sentences are built.

Learn how to give polite, formal commands and requests using the 'Sie' form in German.

Learn how to give informal commands to one person by modifying the 'du' verb form.

Learn how to give commands to a group of people informally using the 'ihr' imperative.

Learn the names of the seven days, their masculine gender, and how to use them with prepositions.

Learn how to combine modal verbs like 'können' or 'müssen' with a main verb at the end of a sentence.

Learn the names, gender, and prepositional usage of the twelve months in German.

Understand the three grammatical genders (der, die, das) and how they categorize every German noun.

A fundamental rule where all nouns, including common objects and abstract concepts, are written with an initial capital letter.

Learn the German cardinal numbers from 0 to 10, including the declension of 'one', the capitalization of numbers as nouns, and pronunciation tips.

Learn how to count from 11 to 20, including irregular forms and spelling changes for 16 and 17.

Learn how to form compound numbers from 21 to 99 using the 'unit-and-ten' inversion rule.

Learn how to form the plural for nouns that don't add an ending, like 'der Lehrer' or 'das Fenster'.

Learn how to conjugate regular verbs in the present tense to talk about the now, the always, and the future.

Learn how certain 'strong' verbs like 'fahren' and 'schlafen' change their stem vowel in the singular present tense.

Learn how the vowel 'e' shifts to 'i' in the present tense for common verbs like 'geben', 'helfen', and 'sprechen'.

Learn how certain strong verbs change their stem vowel from 'e' to 'ie' in the singular present tense.

Learn how to tell time in German using both formal 24-hour and informal 12-hour systems, including the unique 'halb' rule.

An overview of the four grammatical cases in German: Nominative, Accusative, Dative, and Genitive.

Learn how to choose between Accusative and Dative with the nine 'Wechselpräpositionen' based on movement vs. location.

Learn how to form basic questions in German by placing the verb at the beginning of the sentence.

Learn how to use 'auch' to say 'also' or 'too' and where to place it in a sentence.

Learn the seven essential prepositions that always govern the dative case: aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, and zu.

Learn how to use 'bitte' and 'danke' correctly to navigate social situations and show politeness in German.

Learn how to use 'das' as the definite article for neuter nouns in the nominative case, as well as its roles as a demonstrative and relative pronoun.

Learn how to use 'der' as the masculine definite article for subjects in German.

The definite article for feminine singular nouns in the nominative and accusative cases.

The plural definite article 'die' (the) used for all genders in the nominative and accusative cases.

Learn how to use 'dieser' to point out specific items and how its endings change with gender and case.

Learn how to use 'dürfen' to ask for permission, state rules, and express prohibitions.

Learn how to use 'ein' and 'eine' to refer to non-specific singular nouns in German.

Learn how to express existence and availability using the essential German phrase 'es gibt'.

Learn how to use 'etwas' (something) and 'nichts' (nothing) and how they interact with adjectives.

A group of common prepositions that strictly govern the accusative case.

Express enjoyment of an activity by adding 'gern' to a verb.

Learn how to conjugate and use 'haben' for possession, idioms, and as a helping verb.

Learn how to use hier, da, and dort to describe locations and proximity in German.

Learn the singular personal pronouns (I, you, he, she, it, and formal You) and how they match German noun genders.

Learn how to use the possessive determiners for 'her/their', 'our', and 'your' (plural) in German.

Learn how to use 'immer', 'oft', 'manchmal', and 'nie' to describe regularity and habits in German.

Learn how to correctly answer questions using ja, nein, and the unique contradicting particle 'doch'.

A guide to distinguishing between the two primary forms of negation in German.

Learn how to negate nouns using the negative article 'kein' (no / not a).

Learn how to use 'können' to talk about what you can do or what is possible.

Learn how to use 'man' to make general statements, describe rules, and talk about what 'people' do in German.

Learn how to express 'my', 'your', 'his', 'her', and 'its' in German using singular possessive determiners.

Learn how to use 'me', 'you', 'him', 'her', and 'it' as direct objects in German.

Expressing general likes and preferences using the modal verb 'mögen'.

Learn how to express necessity and obligation using the modal verb 'müssen'.

The standard German word for 'not', used to negate verbs, adjectives, and specific sentence elements.

Learn how to use 'schon' and 'noch' to express 'already' and 'still' in German sentences.

Learn the difference between intensifying a quality (sehr) and expressing an excessive, problematic amount (zu).

Learn the conjugation and usage of 'sein', the German equivalent of 'to be'.

Learn how to use 'sollen' to express what you are supposed to do based on external requests or moral duties.

Learn how to use 'und', 'oder', 'aber', 'denn', and 'sondern' to join sentences while keeping standard word order.

Learn how to use plural personal pronouns like 'us', 'you all', and 'them' as direct objects in German.

Learn how to use 'viel' and 'viele' to describe quantities in German.

Learn how to use 'wann' to ask questions about time and schedules.

Learn how to use 'warum' to ask for reasons and causes in German.

Learn how to use 'welcher' to ask 'which' and how its endings change based on gender and case.

Learn how to ask 'who' and 'what' correctly using the German interrogative pronouns 'wer' and 'was'.

The word 'wie' (how) used for questions, exclamations, degrees, and comparisons of equality.

Learn how to use plural personal pronouns and the formal 'Sie' in German.

Learn the difference between wo (location), wohin (destination), and woher (origin).

A modal verb expressing strong desire or intention, following the modal verb sentence structure.

Learn how to form and use the German comparative to express 'more' of a quality using the -er suffix.

Learn how to form the past participle for verbs ending in -ieren without using the 'ge-' prefix.

Learn how to tell time using the official 24-hour digital system (e.g., 15 Uhr 30).

Learn how to use the simplified -e and -en endings for adjectives following definite articles and demonstratives.

Learn how adjectives change their endings when they follow indefinite articles (ein) or possessives (mein).

Learn how to choose between 'haben' and 'sein' when forming the past tenses in German.

Learn how common prefixes like 'auf-', 'an-', and 'aus-' detach from verbs and move to the end of German sentences.

Learn how prepositions and articles merge into single words like 'im', 'am', and 'zur' for natural German communication.

Learn the difference between connectors that keep standard word order and those that move the verb to the end.

Learn how to use 'seit' with the dative case to talk about ongoing durations and starting points in time.

Learn how articles change in the dative case to indicate recipients, locations, and specific prepositional objects.

Learn how to tell time informally using 'halb', 'viertel', 'vor', and 'nach' in everyday German conversation.

Learn how to use verbs with fixed prefixes like 'be-', 'ver-', and 'er-' that never separate.

Covers the irregular comparison forms for 'gut', 'viel', 'gern', 'hoch', and 'nah'.

Learn how to use modal verbs in the simple past (Präteritum) to talk about past abilities, obligations, and desires.

Learn how to choose between accusative and dative cases with two-way prepositions based on destination versus location.

Explains the standard sequence of Dative and Accusative noun objects in a German sentence.

Learn how to form and decline ordinal numbers for dates, ranks, and sequences.

Learn how to form the past participle for verbs with inseparable prefixes by omitting the 'ge-' prefix.

Learn how to form the past participle for separable verbs by placing 'ge' in the middle.

Learn where to place 'nicht' to correctly negate sentences and specific words in German.

A complete guide to using possessive determiners like 'mein' and 'dein' across all four German cases.

Explains the mandatory word order flip when using both accusative and dative personal pronouns in a sentence.

Understand when to use the simple past versus the present perfect based on whether you are speaking or writing.

Learn how to use reflexive pronouns like 'mich', 'dich', and 'sich' to indicate actions performed on oneself.

Learn how to use verbs where the action reflects back to the subject using reflexive pronouns.

Learn how to use verbs with detachable prefixes like 'aufstehen' or 'anrufen' in everyday German sentences.

Learn how to form and use the past participle of strong (irregular) verbs ending in -en.

Learn how strong verbs change their vowels to form the simple past tense used in formal writing and storytelling.

A mnemonic for the natural order of adverbial phrases: Time, Cause, Manner, Place.

Learn how the conjugated verb moves to the end of the sentence in subordinate clauses introduced by conjunctions like 'weil' or 'dass'.

Understand the fundamental rule that places the conjugated verb in the second position of every German statement.

Learn how to use verbs like 'helfen' and 'danken' which require the dative case for their objects.

Learn how to decline 'weak' masculine nouns like 'Student' or 'Junge' by adding -(e)n in the Accusative, Dative, and Genitive cases.

Learn how to form the regular past participle (Partizip II) using the ge-...-t pattern for the Perfekt tense.

Learn how to conjugate regular German verbs in the simple past tense for narrative and formal contexts.

The superlative form used for adverbs and adjectives following a verb (e.g., 'the fastest').

A common way to express 'don't need to' in German, requiring 'zu' and a negation.

Learn how to use 'da-' words like 'damit' and 'darauf' to refer to objects and ideas.

Learn how to use 'dass' to create complex sentences and how it affects German word order.

A dative verb used to express ownership or membership in a group.

Learn how to use 'haben' and a past participle to talk about the past in everyday German conversation.

Express progressive change or trends using 'immer' plus the comparative form of an adjective.

Learn how to use 'jemand' and 'niemand' to refer to unspecified people and how they change across different cases.

Learn how to use 'lassen' to express 'letting' someone do something or 'having' a service performed.

Learn how to use 'mir', 'dir', 'ihm', and 'ihr' to represent recipients and indirect objects in German.

Learn how to express 'not yet' and 'no longer' to describe temporal changes in German.

Learn how to use 'ob' to form indirect questions and express uncertainty with correct verb-final word order.

Learn how to talk about life experiences using 'ever' and 'never before' in German.

Learn how to use 'sein' as an auxiliary verb to form the past tense for movement and state changes.

Learn how to use 'um' to express specific clock times in German.

Learn the plural forms of pronouns in the dative case: uns, euch, ihnen, and the formal Ihnen.

Learn the simple past forms of 'to be' and 'to have', which are the most common past tense forms used in everyday German conversation.

Learn how to use 'weil' (because) to give reasons while correctly placing the verb at the end of the sentence.

Learn how to use 'wenn' for conditions and timing, and how it affects German word order.

Learn how to use 'wie' and 'als' to compare people, things, and actions in German.

A guide to distinguishing between factual knowledge (wissen) and personal familiarity (kennen).

Learn how to form 'what' questions using prepositions (e.g., Womit, Wofür, Woran) and when to use them instead of personal pronouns.

A construction used to express 'instead of doing something,' where the subject of both actions is the same.

Learn how to use the suffix -chen to create 'little' nouns and express affection.

Learn how to use the diminutive suffix -lein to express smallness or affection in a literary or regional context.

Learn when to add -s or -es to masculine and neuter nouns in the genitive case.

Learn how to inflect adjectives when no article is present, ensuring the gender and case are still clearly signaled.

Learn how to use the 'Ersatzinfinitiv' where two infinitives appear together in perfect tenses.

Learn how to embed questions into sentences using question words or 'ob' with verb-final word order.

Learn how to use da-compounds to refer to things and introduce subordinate clauses.

Learn how to form and use pronominal adverbs with 'wo-' for questions and complex relative clauses.

Learn how specific German verbs pair with fixed prepositions and cases to express abstract relationships.

Learn how to form the future tense with 'werden' and when to use it for predictions or assumptions.

Learn how the final noun in a compound word determines its gender and plural form.

Learn how articles change in the genitive case to show possession and formal relationships.

Learn how to use the four primary genitive prepositions (während, trotz, wegen, statt) and their required noun endings.

Learn how to express possession and relationships using 'von' + dative instead of the formal genitive case.

A hybrid system of adjective endings used after indefinite articles and possessives to ensure gender and case are clearly marked.

Learn how to correctly position 'nicht' when using separable verbs in main clauses.

Learn how German adjectives can function as nouns while keeping their flexible adjective endings.

Learn how to turn verbs into nouns to describe activities like 'reading', 'eating', or 'traveling' using the neuter article 'das'.

Learn how to combine modal verbs like 'müssen', 'können', and 'sollen' with the passive voice to describe necessary or possible actions.

A compound tense used to indicate that an action took place prior to another point in the past.

Learn how to use the Konjunktiv II to make polite requests, order food, and ask for help in a natural, courteous way.

Learn how to describe actions and processes using the German passive voice with 'werden'.

Learn the difference between describing an action (werden) and describing a result (sein) in the passive voice.

Learn how to express 'if-then' scenarios for real possibilities using the present tense and correct word order.

Learn how to structure relative clauses by placing the conjugated verb at the end and using proper punctuation.

Learn how to use relative pronouns like 'den', 'die', and 'das' when they function as direct objects in a subordinate clause.

Learn how to use dative relative pronouns to describe nouns that function as indirect objects or follow dative prepositions.

A construction using 'sein' and a past participle to describe the resulting state of a finished process.

Learn how to express hypothetical scenarios, polite requests, and advice using the German subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II).

A guide to adjective endings used after definite articles and other 'strong' determiners.

Learn how to use 'bevor' to sequence actions and how it affects German word order.

Learn how to use 'bis' as a conjunction to express 'until' with correct verb-final word order.

Learn how to use 'der', 'die', and 'das' to create relative clauses and add detail to your sentences.

Learn how to use 'dessen' and 'deren' to express 'whose' in formal German relative clauses.

Learn how to use 'durch' to express the means or cause in German passive sentences.

Learn how to express exclusive choices using the 'either...or' structure in German.

Learn how to use 'innerhalb' and 'außerhalb' to define spatial and temporal boundaries using the genitive case.

Expresses proportional relationships ('the more... the more') using specific word order rules for each clause.

Learn how to use the subjunctive forms of 'können' and 'müssen' for politeness and probability.

Learn how to use 'nachdem' to sequence events using the correct tense shifts and word order.

Learn how to use 'nicht nur... sondern auch' to connect ideas with emphasis and correct German word order.

Learn how to use 'obwohl' (although) to express contrast and how it affects German word order.

Learn how to use 'ohne...zu' to describe actions that were skipped or omitted.

A guide to using 'seit' and 'seitdem' to express 'since' in temporal contexts, focusing on verb-final word order and correct tense usage.

A guide to using 'sich freuen' with the prepositions 'auf', 'über', and 'für' to express different types of joy.

Learn how to use 'sodass' to express factual results and consequences in German.

Learn how to use 'sowohl... als auch' to connect two ideas with equal weight, similar to 'both... and...' in English.

A common construction used to express purpose ('in order to') when the subject of both actions is the same.

Learn how to specify the 'doer' in passive sentences using the preposition 'von' and the dative case.

Learn how to use 'was' as a relative pronoun after indefinite words, superlatives, or to refer to whole ideas.

Learn how to use 'weder...noch' to express 'neither...nor' in German sentences.

Learn how to use 'welcher' as a formal relative pronoun to improve your writing style and avoid repetitive phrasing.

Learn how to use 'wo' as a relative adverb to describe locations and time periods in German.

Learn how to use 'während' to express simultaneous actions or contrast two ideas while maintaining correct subordinate word order.

Learn how to use 'während' as a preposition to express duration and simultaneous events using the genitive case.

Learn how to use the essential subjunctive forms 'wäre' and 'hätte' for hypotheticals and politeness.

Learn how to use 'würde' with an infinitive to talk about 'would' scenarios, polite requests, and hypothetical situations in German.

Learn how to use 'zu' with infinitive verbs to express intent, purpose, or completion of a thought.

A concessive correlative used to balance a statement with a contrasting fact.

Learn how to use the genitive case to link nouns and express possession or relationships in formal German.

A formal, high-level construction that places detailed descriptions (objects, adverbs) before a noun using a declined participle.

Fixed verb-noun combinations used to express specific action phases in formal German.

Learn how to express possession with names using the -s ending or an apostrophe.

Learn how to use adjectives within genitive phrases to describe possession and relationships in formal German.

Learn how fronting an adverbial element changes German word order by moving the subject after the verb.

A formal mood used for neutral reported speech, instructions, and specific wishes.

A formal rule where Konjunktiv II replaces Konjunktiv I in reported speech to avoid confusion with the present tense.

Learn the one-word subjunctive forms of strong verbs used for formal hypotheticals and counterfactual statements.

A formal, noun-heavy style used in academic and official documents to condense information and sound objective.

Learn how to form the passive voice with intransitive verbs using 'werden' and a dummy 'es'.

Expresses counterfactual past events, regrets, or hypothetical scenarios that did not happen.

Learn how to use past participles as adjectives to describe completed actions and states in formal and everyday German.

Learn how to turn verbs into active adjectives (like 'the boiling water') using the Partizip I.

Learn how to use prepositions within relative clauses, ensuring correct case and word order.

A formal mood used in news and reports to relay someone else's statements neutrally.

The structural framework of German sentences where verb parts form a 'bracket' around the central information, defining the Vorfeld, Mittelfeld, and Nachfeld.

Expressing joy about facts or future events using 'sich freuen' and 'dass'.

Expresses 'as if' by placing the subjunctive verb directly after 'als' in a Verb-Second structure.

Learn how to use 'als ob' to create hypothetical comparisons using the subjunctive mood.

Distinguish between lack of necessity (don't have to) and prohibition (must not) using müssen, brauchen, and dürfen.

A conversational particle used in questions to express interest, surprise, or a connection to the current situation.

Learn to use 'dennoch', 'allerdings', and 'jedoch' to express complex contrasts and 'however' in formal German.

Learn how to use 'deshalb', 'deswegen', and 'daher' to express results while maintaining correct German word order.

A versatile particle used to emphasize obviousness, soften commands, or express surprise in conversation.

Learn how to use 'eben' and 'halt' to express resignation and matter-of-fact acceptance in spoken German.

Learn how to use 'es' as a placeholder subject for weather, idioms, and sentence structure.

Learn how German uses 'es' as a placeholder to introduce sub-clauses and infinitive phrases.

A formal construction for expressing firm intentions or official plans.

A construction used to indicate that a certain degree or amount is sufficient to enable an action.

A formal way to say 'regarding' or 'in light of' a specific factor, using the accusative case.

Learn how to use 'im Vergleich zu' to make relative comparisons using the dative case.

Learn how to use 'in Bezug auf' to discuss topics formally using the accusative case.

Learn how to use the modal particle 'ja' to signal shared knowledge, surprise, or warnings in natural conversation.

Learn how to use 'je nachdem' to link actions to varying conditions and indirect questions.

Expresses a proportional relationship between two clauses, similar to the English 'the more... the better'.

Learn how to use 'keineswegs' to express strong, formal negation in German.

A common spoken particle that softens commands and adds a casual, friendly tone to requests and questions.

Learn how to use the pronoun 'man' to express general actions and rules as a natural alternative to the passive voice.

Learn how to use 'mit Rücksicht auf' to express consideration and restraint in formal German.

A formal way to express habits using 'pflegen' followed by an infinitive with 'zu'.

A formal passive substitute expressing necessity or possibility.

Learn how to use 'sich lassen' as an idiomatic alternative to the passive voice to express possibility.

Learn how to use 'trotzdem' to express contrast and 'nevertheless' while maintaining correct German word order.

A formal literary pattern meaning 'to be capable of', used with an infinitive + zu.

Learn how to use 'wessen' for questions and formal 'headless' relative clauses.

Learn how to use 'wohl' to express assumptions, logical inferences, and curiosity in natural German conversation.

Learn how to express 'too... to' in German using the zu...um...zu construction to describe consequences of excess.

A formal literary construction using the accusative case and a participle to express accompanying circumstances.

A guide to the internal logic of German sentences, covering the placement of pronouns, nouns, and adverbials.

Learn how German uses linking sounds like -s-, -n-, and -er- to build complex compound words.

Learn how to omit repeated verbs in coordinated sentences to sound more natural and concise.

Advanced formal predicates combining a 'bleached' verb with a noun to express specific action phases or passive meanings.

Learn how to use 'Es ist...' cleft sentences to provide contrastive emphasis on specific nouns or pronouns.

A fundamental principle where sentences start with known information (Topic) and end with new information (Comment).

Formal wishes, blessings, and decrees using the Konjunktiv I.

A spoken German pattern used to emphasize a topic by placing it at the start and repeating it with a pronoun.

Learn how to construct and navigate complex nested sentences (Schachtelsätze) common in formal and academic German.

Learn how to combine the passive voice with modal verbs in the perfect tense for formal past-tense expressions.

A complex construction using 'hätte' and two infinitives to discuss hypothetical past events involving ability, permission, or obligation.

The formal 'reporting mood' used by journalists to relay claims neutrally and objectively.

A conversational structure where a noun is placed at the end of the sentence to clarify a preceding pronoun, requiring matching grammatical cases.

A technique to emphasize specific information by placing it at the very beginning of a sentence (Topicalization), which requires the subject to move after the verb.

Learn how to use the formal preposition 'angesichts' to express causality and context in high-level German.

A formal preposition used for substitution, meaning 'in place of'.

Learn how to use the Recipient Passive to focus on the person receiving or affected by an action using 'bekommen' and a past participle.

An elevated, formal way to express 'in such a fashion that' or 'to the extent that'.

Learn how to use 'es' as a forward-pointing placeholder for subject clauses and infinitive phrases.

Learn how to use 'es kommt darauf an' to express dependency and importance in German.

Learn how to use 'es sei denn' to express exceptions and conditions in formal German.

A formal, elevated way to say 'nevertheless' or 'however' in written German.

Learn how to use 'hiermit' to refer to objects in your hand or to make formal 'hereby' declarations.

A high-register adverb used to express a necessary logical consequence, common in legal and academic writing.

A formal conjunctive adverb used to express contrast ('nevertheless') in academic or literary contexts.

A formal genitive preposition used to identify the party or side responsible for an action or stance.

Learn how to use 'sofern' to express formal conditions and prerequisites in German.

Learn how to use 'sondern' to correct negative statements with 'but rather'.

A formal genitive preposition used to indicate that something remains valid or unaffected by another statement.

Learn how to use the formal preposition 'ungeachtet' to express 'regardless of' in high-level German.

Learn how to use the formal prepositions 'mittels' and 'vermittels' to describe methods and instruments in technical or literary German.

A formal preposition used in legal and business contexts to indicate that something is 'subject to' a specific condition or approval.

Advanced literary conjunctions used to express 'although' in formal or academic German.

A formal, genitive preposition used in administrative German to express purpose or intention.

A formal or archaic dative ending (-e) for masculine/neuter nouns, primarily used in fixed idioms and literature.

The formal, bureaucratic language used by German public institutions and legal bodies.

Learn the archaic formal address 'Ihr', used in historical contexts and fantasy settings to show respect to a single person.

Learn the 'frozen' subjunctive expressions like 'Gott sei Dank' and 'es sei denn' that survive in modern German.

Learn how to use the formal genitive of quality to describe characteristics and measures in elevated German.

Explore the formal grammatical and lexical differences between the Standard German used in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Advanced formal construction for indefinite plural genitive attributes.

Explains the informal fusion of verbs with the pronoun 'du' in spoken German.

Deeply nested subordination (Schachtelsatz) used in formal, academic, and legal German for high precision.

A stylistic and functional technique where a non-subject element is moved to the first position of a German sentence while maintaining the V2 verb rule.

A highly formal verb cluster used to express past modal conditions of a passive state, common in legal and academic German.

Advanced stacking of nominalized verbs and genitive attributes used in academic, legal, and bureaucratic contexts.

Standardized rules for formal German letters and emails, including salutations, closing formulas, and specific punctuation rules.

Learn about fossilized genitive phrases used as adverbs for time and manner, such as 'eines Tages' or 'meines Erachtens'.

Learn how Konjunktiv I functions in 'frozen' idiomatic expressions like 'Gott sei Dank' and 'es sei denn'.

Advanced administrative structures nesting passive voice with multiple modal verbs for impersonal, legal precision.

A deep dive into the technical, highly formal language of German law and administration.

The condensed, article-free syntax used in German news headlines and media.

A literary device where a final unstressed -e is dropped for rhythmic or rhyming purposes in verse.

Explores the systematic grammatical differences in Southern German dialects, including tense usage, case replacement, and syntactic variations.

Explore how German writers and poets use non-standard word order for dramatic emphasis and poetic rhythm.

Advanced informal markers and structural innovations used in urban German youth speech.

Advanced formal usage where personal pronouns function as genitive objects for specific verbs.

A formal expression used to define meanings, legal scopes, or the 'spirit' of an idea, typically using the genitive case.

Express formal, solemn wishes or blessings using the Konjunktiv I of 'mögen'.

A formal legal phrase meaning 'in accordance with' or 'to the extent of,' typically governing the genitive case.