Attributive Genitive Of Measure

Level 6

The Genitive of Quality (Genitivus qualitatis) uses a genitive noun phrase—almost always containing an adjective—to describe a characteristic like age, mindset, or nature (e.g., 'ein Mann hohen Alters').

How It Works

The Genitive of Quality (or Measure) is a hallmark of elevated, literary, or academic German (gehobene Sprache). It functions as a post-nominal attribute, meaning it follows the noun it describes.

1. The Visibility Rule (Sichtbarkeitsregel):
In modern German, if a genitive attribute is used without an article, it must include an inflected adjective or pronoun. This is because the adjective carries the case ending that makes the genitive recognizable. For example, you cannot say 'ein Mann Alters'; you must say 'ein Mann hohen Alters'.

2. Semantic Categories:

  • Quality: Describes a state or nature (e.g., ein Problem technischer Natur - a problem of a technical nature).
  • Measure: Describes quantity or amount (e.g., ein Glas guten Weines - a glass of good wine).

3. Register and Alternatives:
This pattern is rare in spoken German. In everyday contexts, speakers prefer:

  • von + Dative: ein Mann von hohem Alter.
  • Prepositional phrases: ein Problem in technischer Hinsicht.
  • A plain adjective: ein technisches Problem.

4. Morphological Note:
Masculine and neuter nouns must still take their standard genitive endings (-s or -es), and weak masculine nouns must take their -n/-en endings.

Examples (5)

  1. Er ist ein Mann hohen Alters, aber wachen Geistes.

    He is a man of great age, but of sharp mind.

    Word by Word: He is a man high age, but awake mind.

    Both 'hohen Alters' and 'wachen Geistes' are genitive attributes describing the man's state.

  2. Es handelt sich um ein Problem technischer Natur.

    It is a problem of a technical nature.

    Word by Word: It acts itself about a problem technical nature.

    The genitive phrase 'technischer Natur' specifies the type of problem.

  3. Sie tranken eine Flasche köstlichen Weines.

    They drank a bottle of delicious wine.

    Word by Word: They drank a bottle delicious wine.

    This is the 'Genitive of Measure', describing the contents of the bottle.

  4. Wir begegneten einem Menschen edlen Herzens.

    We encountered a person of noble heart.

    Word by Word: We encountered a human noble heart.

    Note that 'Herz' is a mixed noun and takes the '-ens' ending in the genitive.

  5. Das ist ein Verbrechen schwerster Art.

    That is a crime of the most serious kind.

    Word by Word: That is a crime heaviest kind.

    Superlative adjectives are frequently used in this construction to emphasize the quality.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting the adjective in the genitive phrase.

    Er ist ein Mann Alters.
    Er ist ein Mann hohen Alters.

    Without an article or an adjective, the genitive case is not 'visible' enough in modern German. An adjective is required to carry the case marking.

  • Using the construction in casual conversation.

    Ich habe ein Problem technischer Natur mit meinem Handy.
    Ich habe ein technisches Problem mit meinem Handy.

    While grammatically correct, the genitive of quality sounds overly formal or 'stilted' in everyday situations like fixing a phone.

How It Connects

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Attributive Genitive Of MeasureLevel 6

Learn This First

To learn the genitive of quality, a learner must first understand the mechanics of the genitive case, including how articles and nouns change. Additionally, because this construction frequently involves an adjective-noun pair without a definite article, knowledge of strong adjective endings is essential to correctly identify and form the phrase.