ihrer/seiner

Genitive Object Pronouns

Level 6

In formal or literary German, a small group of verbs requires the object to be in the genitive case rather than the accusative or dative. When that object is a person, we use genitive personal pronouns like seiner (of him) or ihrer (of her/them).

How It Works

In modern German, most verbs take an accusative or dative object. However, a few 'elevated' verbs (like gedenken - to commemorate, bedürfen - to require, or sich schämen - to be ashamed) still govern the genitive.

1. The Forms:
The genitive personal pronouns are:

  • 1st Person: meiner (sg), unser (pl)
  • 2nd Person: deiner (sg), euer (pl), Ihrer (formal)
  • 3rd Person: seiner (masc/neut), ihrer (fem/pl)

2. Register and Usage:
This pattern is rarely heard in daily conversation. If you use it, you are signaling a very formal or solemn tone. For example, instead of the common an jemanden denken (to think of someone), using jemandes gedenken implies a formal act of remembrance.

3. Distinction from Possessives:
Do not confuse these with possessive determiners. In the sentence 'Ich gedenke seiner,' the word seiner stands alone as the object ('of him'). In 'Ich sehe seinen Hund,' the word seinen is a determiner modifying the noun 'Hund'.

Examples (4)

  1. Wir gedenken seiner in tiefer Trauer.

    We commemorate him in deep mourning.

    Word by Word: We commemorate of-him in deep mourning.

    The verb 'gedenken' requires a genitive object. 'Seiner' is the genitive form of 'er' (he).

  2. Die Kinder bedürfen unser.

    The children require us (our help).

    Word by Word: The children require of-us.

    In formal German, 'bedürfen' (to need/require) takes a genitive object. 'Unser' is the genitive form of 'wir'.

  3. Er schämt sich seiner nicht.

    He is not ashamed of him.

    Word by Word: He shames himself of-him not.

    The reflexive verb 'sich schämen' can take a genitive object to indicate the person one is ashamed of.

  4. Gedenke meiner, wenn ich fort bin.

    Remember me when I am gone.

    Word by Word: Commemorate of-me, when I away am.

    This uses the imperative 'gedenke' with the genitive pronoun 'meiner' for a poetic, solemn effect.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the accusative case for formal genitive verbs.

    Wir gedenken ihn.
    Wir gedenken seiner.

    Learners often default to the accusative 'ihn' because it feels like a direct object, but 'gedenken' strictly requires the genitive 'seiner' in formal writing.

  • Hypercorrecting the plural forms 'unser' and 'euer'.

    Gedenke unserer!
    Gedenke unser!

    While 'unserer' is becoming common in modern speech, the traditional and preferred genitive personal pronoun form is 'unser'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

ihrer/seinerLevel 6Genitive Object Pronouns

Learn This First

To understand genitive object pronouns, a learner needs a solid grasp of the German case system, specifically the genitive case. They must also be familiar with standard personal pronouns, as these forms (seiner, ihrer, etc.) are the genitive equivalents of the basic pronouns used in more common cases like nominative or accusative.