Brottin

TOPIC · Miscellaneous (Anders)

WEM or WESSEN?

A2B1

After this lesson you can decide when to use „wem“ (Dativ) and when to use „wessen“ (Genitiv) in questions and you can form correct answers.

In this lesson you work with two question words: „wem“ (Dativ) and „wessen“ (Genitiv). Both can refer to people, but they have different functions in the sentence. You learn to recognize typical patterns and to ask correct questions with „wem“ and „wessen“.

1„wem“ – asking for the dative object

„wem“ is the dative form of „wer“. It asks for the dative object, usually the person who receives something or for whom something is done.

Typical uses:

  • after verbs that take a dative object: „helfen“, „geben“, „schenken“, „erzählen“, „antworten“ …
  • after dative prepositions: „mit“, „zu“, „bei“, „von“, „aus“ …

Examples with „wem“

Example with „wem“Meaning
Wem gibst du das Buch?Who are you giving the book to?
Ich gebe das Buch meinem Bruder.I am giving the book to my brother.
Wem hilft sie heute?Who is she helping today?
Sie hilft ihrer Nachbarin.She is helping her neighbour.
Mit wem sprichst du?Who are you talking with?
Ich spreche mit meinem Chef.I am talking with my boss.
Zu wem fährst du am Wochenende?Who are you going to visit at the weekend?
Ich fahre zu meinen Großeltern.I am going to my grandparents.

Key idea: The answer to „wem?“ almost always contains a noun or pronoun in the Dativ: „wem? – dem Kind, meinem Freund, ihr, ihnen …“

2„wessen“ – asking about possession (Genitiv)

„wessen“ is the Genitiv form of „wer“. It asks about possession, belonging or relationship.

Typical uses:

  • a person in Genitiv that belongs to a noun: „das Auto meines Vaters“ (my father’s car)
  • abstract possession: „die Meinung meiner Freunde“ (my friends’ opinion)

Examples with „wessen“

Example with „wessen“Meaning
Wessen Buch ist das?Whose book is that?
Das ist das Buch meiner Schwester.That is my sister’s book.
Wessen Jacke hängt hier?Whose jacket is hanging here?
Das ist die Jacke des Lehrers.That is the teacher’s jacket.
Wessen Idee war das?Whose idea was that?
Das war die Idee unseres Chefs.That was our boss’s idea.

In the answer to „wessen“ you very often see Genitiv endings:

  • singular: „meines Bruders“, „meiner Mutter“, „des Lehrers“
  • plural: „meiner Freunde“, „der Kinder“

3„wem“ or „wessen“ for possession?

Sometimes possession can be expressed with a dative structure or a Genitiv structure.

QuestionTypeMeaning
Wessen Auto steht vor der Tür?Genitiv questionWhose car is in front of the door?
Wem gehört das Auto vor der Tür?Dativ questionWhose car is the car in front of the door?

Possible answers:

  • Das ist das Auto meiner Schwester. (Genitiv)
  • Das Auto gehört meiner Schwester. (Dativ after „gehören“)

Both are correct. „wessen“ asks directly for the owner as a Genitiv element; „wem“ uses the verb „gehören“ and asks for the dative object.

4Typical mistakes and tips

  • Do not confuse „wer?“ and „wem?“:
    • „Wer hilft dir?“ – who is helping you? (subject, Nominativ)
    • „Wem hilfst du?“ – who are you helping? (dative object)
  • Use „wessen“, not *„wen sein“: not „*Wen sein Auto ist das?“, but „Wessen Auto ist das?“
  • In spoken German people often avoid Genitiv („das Auto von meinem Bruder“). At A2/B1 level you should still practise the standard Genitiv question with „wessen“.

summaryEn: After this lesson you can decide when to use „wem“ (Dativ) and when to use „wessen“ (Genitiv) in questions and you can form correct answers.