My and your: possessive articles
A possessive article says whose something is: means my, means your with , and means your with polite . It replaces the word for the. Say : the possessive article replaces the word for the.
For the nominative forms here, masculine and neuter use , or . Feminine uses , or . Choose the ending from the noun, not from the owner: a woman and a man both say , , . Keep the noun’s gender even when you replace its usual article.
| Owner | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| my key · my cat · my house | ||||
| my key · my cat · my house | ||||
| your key · your cat · your house | ||||
| your key · your cat · your house | ||||
| your key · your cat · your house (polite) | ||||
| your key · your cat · your house (polite) | ||||
Use these forms when the noun is the subject, or when it identifies something after : . . This unit teaches ownership words with a noun. Standalone mine/yours and the object endings are separate topics; learn the earlier phrase as a whole until module 4.
Saying where something is
means here, means there, means upstairs or above, and means downstairs or below. They do not change their form. To say where someone lives, use : . To ask where, use .
| Word | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| here · Mikesch lives here. | ||
| here · Mikesch lives here. | ||
| there · The café is there. | ||
| there · The café is there. | ||
| upstairs · Jonas lives upstairs. | ||
| upstairs · Jonas lives upstairs. | ||
| downstairs · The café is downstairs. | ||
| downstairs · The café is downstairs. | ||
Starting a statement with a place
A place can start a statement, but the verb stays in position 2: becomes . Starting with a place still leaves the verb in position 2 and the subject after it. In a question, the question word still comes first: .
Going to the café
Learn as a phrase for going to the café. combines and . It describes a destination, so it is different from simply saying where something is. Location articles are taught in module 2; destinations return in module 6.
Polite everyday questions
Use and with Frau Brandt; with , the phrases are and . Learn these greetings whole for now. means every day.
Ist das Ihr Haus, Frau Brandt?Is that your house, Mrs Brandt?
Ist das Ihr Haus, Frau Brandt?Is that your house, Mrs Brandt?
Hilde ist meine Oma.Hilde is my grandmother.
Oben wohnt Jonas.Jonas lives upstairs.
Lotte ist jeden Tag hier.Lotte is here every day.
Being in the café
In the café is : combines and . Learn this location phrase as a whole for now. Compare (where someone is) with (where someone goes). The complete location pattern comes in module 2.
Practice 1/5 · Finding words
Whose people and things?
Tap the words that say whose someone or something is.
.
That is my house.
.
Hilde is my grandmother.
?
Is that your key?
.
That is your trumpet.
?
Is that your house (polite)?
.
Here is your cat (polite).
Practice 2/5 · The right form
The noun chooses the ending
Choose the right word for the gap.
Schlüssel ist hier.
My key is here.
Hilde ist Oma.
Hilde is my grandmother.
Das ist Café.
That is my café.
Ist das Schlüssel?
Is that your key?
Das ist Trompete.
That is your trumpet.
Ist das Haus?
Is that your house?
Hier ist Schlüssel.
Here is your key (polite).
Ist das Katze?
Is that your cat (polite)?
Das ist Haus.
That is your house (polite).
Where the neighbours are
Choose the right word for the gap.
Oben Jonas.
Jonas lives upstairs.
Dort das Café.
The café is there.
Wo Greta?
Where does Greta live?
Unten ich.
I live downstairs.
Lotte jeden Tag hier.
Lotte is here every day.
Practice 3/5 · Fill the gaps
Connect an owner with a place or thing
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
Das ist Café. Katze ist hier.
That is my café. My cat is here.
Ist das Trompete? Ist das Schlüssel?
Is that your trumpet? Is that your key?
Ist das Haus? Ist das Katze?
Is that your house (polite)? Is that your cat (polite)?
Hilde ist Oma. Lotte ist Freundin.
Hilde is my grandmother. Lotte is your friend.
Practice 4/5 · Building sentences
Say whose, then say where
Put the words in order.
My key is here.
That is your trumpet.
Is that your cat (polite)?
Here is your key (polite).
Jonas lives upstairs.
I live downstairs.
Where does Greta live?
Practice 5/5 · In situations
Sorting out life at number 7
Choose the right words for the situation.
Frau Brandt is standing at the entrance with the house keys. You want to check whether she owns the building.
You say:
Ihr is the polite ownership word, and Haus takes no ending.
Frau Brandt is standing at the entrance with the house keys. You want to check whether she owns the building.
You say:
Ihr is the polite ownership word, and Haus takes no ending.
Lotte introduces Hilde to someone who has not met the family yet.
Lotte says:
Lotte explains the actual family relationship.
A visitor is looking for Jonas. You point upstairs and start your answer with the place.
You say:
Wohnt stays in position 2 after the place word.
A visitor is looking for Jonas. You point upstairs and start your answer with the place.
You say:
Wohnt stays in position 2 after the place word.
You have found a key. Lotte is beside you, so you check whether it belongs to her.
You say:
Dein is appropriate with Lotte and says whose key you are asking about.
You have found a key. Lotte is beside you, so you check whether it belongs to her.
You say:
Dein is appropriate with Lotte and says whose key you are asking about.
Unit complete
