Possessive -s with names (A2) – German grammar

Add -s to a name, with no apostrophe, to show who owns something: Annas Wohnung.

Learn first:Definite and indefinite articles in the nominative

Normal names

Base name	Ending letter	Possessive form	Example with noun	English meaning
Anna	-a (vowel)	Annas	Annas Wohnung	Anna's flat
Peter	-r (consonant)	Peters	Peters Schwester	Peter's sister
David	-d (consonant)	Davids	Davids Schlüssel	David's keys
Sarah	-h (consonant)	Sarahs	Sarahs Familie	Sarah's family
Leon	-n (consonant)	Leons	Leons Eltern	Leon's parents

The main points

Name + -s, no apostrophe: Annas Wohnung, Berlins Straßen.
Name ends in an s-sound: only an apostrophe. Max' Auto.
The name replaces the article: Peters Fahrrad, not das Peters Fahrrad.
Countries with an article take no -s: die Hauptstadt der Schweiz.
In speech, people often say von + name: das Auto von Max.

Part 1 of 4

When you use it

1
Someone's flat, room or things
- Wir treffen uns heute Abend in Annas Wohnung.We're meeting at Anna's flat this evening.
- Ist das Peters Fahrrad vor der Haustür?Is that Peter's bike in front of the door?
Put the name with -s straight before the thing.
2
Family and friends
- Das ist Sophias Bruder. Er wohnt auch hier in Hamburg.That's Sophia's brother. He lives here in Hamburg too.
- Wir haben gestern Julias Eltern beim Abendessen kennengelernt.We met Julia's parents at dinner yesterday.
Use it to say how people belong together.
3
Cities and countries
- Berlins Straßen sind am Wochenende voller Touristen.Berlin's streets are full of tourists at the weekend.
- Münchens Parks sind im Sommer besonders schön.Munich's parks are especially beautiful in summer.
Cities and countries without an article also take -s.

The forms

Normal names

Add -s straight to the name. No space and no apostrophe.

Base name	Ending letter	Possessive form	Example with noun	English meaning
Anna	-a (vowel)	Annas	Annas Wohnung	Anna's flat
Peter	-r (consonant)	Peters	Peters Schwester	Peter's sister
David	-d (consonant)	Davids	Davids Schlüssel	David's keys
Sarah	-h (consonant)	Sarahs	Sarahs Familie	Sarah's family
Leon	-n (consonant)	Leons	Leons Eltern	Leon's parents

What to notice

Don't write Anna's. Write Annas. The apostrophe is allowed only as a rare option, mostly on shop signs.

Part 2 of 4

Step by step

1
Listen to the end of the name
Does the name end in an s-sound: -s, -ß, -z, -tz, -x or -ce?
- Maria → normal ending
- Felix → s-sound
2
Add -s or an apostrophe
Normal ending: add -s, with no apostrophe. s-sound: add only an apostrophe.
- Maria → Marias, Felix → Felix'
3
Put the name before the noun
The name takes the place of der, die or das. Don't use an article as well.
- die Wohnung → Marias Wohnung
- Wir fahren heute zu Marias Wohnung.We're going to Maria's flat today.
4
In speech: von + name
In everyday speech, people often say von + name instead. Both are correct.
- Das ist Felix' Fahrrad.That's Felix's bike. (written)
- Das ist das Fahrrad von Felix.That's Felix's bike. (spoken)

Part 3 of 4

Common mistakes

~~Wir treffen uns heute in Anna's Wohnung.~~
Wir treffen uns heute in Annas Wohnung.
The standard form has no apostrophe. Add -s straight to the name.
~~Das ist Maxs neuer Laptop auf dem Schreibtisch.~~
Das ist Max' neuer Laptop auf dem Schreibtisch.
Max ends in an s-sound, so it takes only an apostrophe.
~~Ich kenne schon die Peters Mutter.~~
Ich kenne schon Peters Mutter.
The name replaces the article. Don't use die as well.

Exceptions

Tap one to open it.

Some countries have an article: die Schweiz, die Türkei, die USA. They don't take -s. Use der Schweiz (→ N08) or von der Schweiz.
- Die Hauptstadt der Schweiz ist Bern.The capital of Switzerland is Bern.
- Die Strände von der Türkei sind wunderschön.Turkey's beaches are beautiful. (everyday speech)
On shop signs you sometimes see Rudi's Imbiss. This is allowed, but it is not the standard form. In emails, school and exams, write Rudis Imbiss.
- Rudis Imbiss, Omas KioskRudi's snack bar, Grandma's kiosk
die + surname + -s means the whole family. Without die, it is the possessive.
- Wir besuchen heute die Müllers.We're visiting the Müllers today. (the family)
- Wir besuchen heute Müllers Sohn.We're visiting Müller's son today.
In casual speech in some regions, people say dem Peter sein Auto. Don't write it. Use Peters Auto or das Auto von Peter.
- Dem Peter sein Auto.Peter's car. (casual speech only)
- Peters Auto. / Das Auto von Peter.Peter's car. (standard)

Don't mix it up

Name + -s, English 's, mein/sein, genitive and von

On names, -s goes before the noun with no apostrophe. Common nouns use des … -s after the noun. Words like ihr replace the name.

Grammar structure	Pattern	Example	English meaning	What makes it different
Possessive on names	Name + -s	Sarahs Buch	Sarah's book	No apostrophe; replaces the article.
English possessive	Name + 's	Sarah's book	Sarah's book	English needs the apostrophe; German doesn't.
Possessive word	ihr, sein, mein + ending	ihr Buch	her book	Replaces the name; takes endings (→ N06).
Genitive of normal nouns	Article + noun + -s	das Buch des Lehrers	the teacher's book	Comes after the thing and uses an article (des).
Spoken form	von + name	das Buch von Sarah	Sarah's book	Common in casual speech.

Part 4 of 4

In real life

A visit to Lukas's new apartment

Jonas shows his friend Mark around the new Berlin flat of their friend Lukas, who lives there with Marielle. · Tap EN for English.

Mark
Hallo Jonas! Endlich sehe ich Lukas' neue Wohnung. Ist das sein Arbeitszimmer?
Jonas
Nein, das ist Marielles Arbeitszimmer. Hier drüben ist Lukas' Ecke für seine Instrumente.
Mark
Toll! Und wessen Koffer steht da im Flur?
Jonas
Das ist Sofias Koffer. Sie ist Marielles Schwester und ist gerade zu Besuch.
Mark
Kommen Lukas' Eltern am Wochenende auch zu Besuch?
Jonas
Nein. Aber morgen Abend gehen wir alle in Moritz' Lieblingsrestaurant.
Mark
Liegt das Restaurant in der Nähe von Berlins Fernsehturm?
Jonas
Ja, am Alexanderplatz. Dort gibt es Marias leckeren Kuchen zum Nachtisch.

That's the whole topic.

Next topicPossessive articles (my, your …)

Normal names

The main points

When you use it

Someone's flat, room or things

Family and friends

Cities and countries

The forms

Normal names

Step by step

Listen to the end of the name

Add -s or an apostrophe

Put the name before the noun

In speech: von + name

Common mistakes

Exceptions

Don't mix it up

Name + -s, English 's, mein/sein, genitive and von

In real life

Sources