Brottin

TOPIC · Verbs (Verben)

List of verbs used with the Genitive in German

A2B1

After this lesson you can recognise the most important verbs that take the German Genitiv and correctly use some of them in your own sentences.

In this lesson you learn important verbs that take an object in the Genitiv, for example: „jemanden des Diebstahls verdächtigen“ or „der Wahrheit bedürfen“. These structures sound formal or written, but they appear in newspapers, official texts and also in more educated everyday speech.

1Why verbs with Genitiv matter

In modern German, most objects are in Akkusativ or Dativ. A small group of verbs, however, regularly requires the Genitiv object. Many of them are formal (administration, newspapers, literature), but they are still in active use. For A2/B1 it is enough if you can recognise them and use some of the most common ones.

Typical meaning groups:

  • „jemanden einer Sache beschuldigen“ (accuse someone of something)
  • „jemanden einer Sache berauben/entziehen“ (deprive someone of something)
  • „sich einer Sache erinnern/bedienen/erfreuen“ (remember/use/enjoy something)

2Common verbs with Genitiv

Verb / patternShort meaningExample sentenceMeaning of the example
bedürfen + Gen.to need (formal)Das Projekt bedarf deiner Zustimmung.The project needs your approval.
gedenken + Gen.to commemorate, remember solemnlyWir gedenken der Verstorbenen.We commemorate the dead.
sich annehmen + Gen.to take care ofSie nimmt sich der neuen Mitarbeiter an.She takes care of the new employees.
sich bedienen + Gen.to make use ofEr bedient sich moderner Methoden.He makes use of modern methods.
sich erinnern + Gen. (formal)to rememberIch erinnere mich ihrer Worte.I remember her words.
sich schämen + Gen.to be ashamed ofEr schämt sich seiner Lüge.He is ashamed of his lie.
anklagen + Gen.to charge officially (law)Man klagte ihn des Betrugs an.He was officially charged with fraud.
verdächtigen + Gen.to suspectDie Polizei verdächtigt ihn des Diebstahls.The police suspect him of theft.
beschuldigen + Gen.to accuseSie beschuldigte ihn der Lüge.She accused him of lying.
berauben + Gen.to deprive someone of somethingDer Unfall beraubte ihn seiner Gesundheit.The accident deprived him of his health.
sich erfreuen + Gen.to enjoy, to have the benefit ofWir erfreuen uns bester Gesundheit.We enjoy very good health.
sich enthalten + Gen.to abstain fromSie enthielt sich der Stimme.She abstained from voting.

Note: Many of these verbs can be paraphrased with other structures in everyday speech, often with an + Dativ or with a different verb.

3Form and word order

The Genitiv object usually comes directly after the verb:

  • „Die Lehrerin verdächtigt den Schüler des Betrugs.“
  • „Wir gedenken der Opfer.“

With reflexive verbs, the reflexive pronoun stays in its normal position:

  • „Er schämt sich seiner Noten.“
  • „Sie erinnert sich seiner netten Worte.“

4Learning tips and typical alternatives

  • Memorise verbs together with full example sentences, not isolated.
  • In spoken language you will often hear:
    • „sich erinnern an etwas“ instead of „sich erinnern Genitiv“
    • paraphrases like „jemandem etwas wegnehmen“ instead of „jemanden einer Sache berauben“.
  • For exams, written texts and news, the Genitiv is still important.

5Mini practice (self-check)

Fill in the correct Genitiv form:

  1. Die Polizei verdächtigt ihn ___ Diebstahls.
  2. Wir gedenken ___ Verstorbenen.
  3. Er schämt sich ___ Fehler.
  4. Das Projekt bedarf ___ Mitarbeit aller.

Then compare with the table above.