Common genitive patterns and their limits
For a controlled formal sentence, use an explicitly marked genitive phrase with the following common prepositions. Do not turn this into “all variants are wrong”: wegen with dative is common in informal speech, and several genitive prepositions have additional constructions. A bare plural may not show enough genitive marking; rephrase rather than mechanically adding an ending.
| Präposition | Example |
|---|---|
| wegen | wegen des Termins |
| trotz | trotz eines Problems |
| während | während der Sitzung |
| statt / anstatt | statt eines Briefes |
| aufgrund | aufgrund einer Änderung |
| innerhalb | innerhalb einer Woche |
| außerhalb | außerhalb des Gebäudes |
Check the construction in context
Choose your answer before opening the explanation. Check the whole phrase as well as the form.
3. Formal style: wegen ___ Problems (ein).
wegen eines Problems. The neuter genitive is visible in both article and noun.
8. Does wegen dem Termin prove the speaker means a different cause?
No. The variation concerns case and register. For the formal pattern practiced here, use wegen des Termins.
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German prepositions and cases: a practical reference · Find another grammar topic
Questions about this topic
Is wegen with dative always wrong?
Dative with wegen is common in informal speech. This lesson practises the visibly marked genitive pattern for controlled formal wording; other constructions need their own check.
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