Possessivpronomen (Possessive Pronouns)

What are Possessive Pronouns? (Possessivpronomen)

Possessive Pronouns show ownership or belonging and replace a previously mentioned noun. They are mein, dein, sein, ihr, unser, euer, ihr and the declined forms.

Example:

• „Ist das dein Koffer?“ – „Ja, das ist meiner!“
• „Wem gehört die Katze?“ – „Das ist meine!“

Possessive Articles and Possessive Pronouns

Difference between Possessive Article and Possessive Pronouns

• „Wem gehört der Ball?“ – „Das ist mein Ball.“

⇒ Possessive Article, because there is a noun behind it.

• „Wem gehört der Ball?“ – „Das ist meiner.“

⇒ Possessive Pronouns, because there is no noun behind it.

Pronouns replace nouns. This means that with a noun behind it, it is a Possessive Article (i.e., a companion) and only standing alone, i.e., without a noun, it is a Possessive Pronoun. The difference is important because the declension is different in the Nominative and Accusative case.

Construction

1. The "owner" (ich, du, er, sie, es, wir, ihr, sie, Sie) determines the base form.
2. The Gender and Number of the noun that is "owned", as well as the Case, tell you which ending you have to use.

     = 100% Just like the Possessive Articles

„Wem gehört der Ball?“ (Gender = masculine)

Declension

The Declension is related to the Possessive Article's declension.

But: Pronoun always take the ending of the Definite Article, including in the Nominative Case (m/n) and Accusative Case (m).

By looking at the endings, you can see that the endings exactly match those of the Definite Articles.

Use of Possessivpronomen 

Possessivpronomen (Possessive Pronouns) are used as a substitute for a previously mentioned noun when asking about affiliation.

• „Wem gehört das Auto?“ - „Das ist mein(e)s!“
  

We use it mostly after the question of who owns something. If you repeat the noun, it is no longer a Possessive Pronoun anymore but a Possessive Article.