Genitive prepositions
B1 · Intermediate · Advanced Structures
The rule
wegen, trotz, während, statt, innerhalb, außerhalb.
How it works
Wegen (because of), trotz (despite), während (during), statt (instead of), innerhalb (within) and außerhalb (outside) take the genitive in formal German. In speech, wegen and trotz are often used with the dative, which is accepted in everyday language. Learning them with the genitive is important for writing and exams.
When to use it
Use wegen, trotz, während, statt, innerhalb and außerhalb, which take the genitive in formal German.
Use cases
- Explaining causes formally: Wegen der Krise steigen die Preise
- Describing contrast: Trotz des Wetters gehen wir spazieren
- Describing time or location in writing: Während des Kurses lernen wir viel
Examples
- Trotz des Regens gehen wir – Despite the rain we go
- Statt des Autos nehmen wir den Zug. – Instead of the car, we take the train.
- Innerhalb der Stadt gibt es viele Parks. – Within the city there are many parks.
- Außerhalb des Gebäudes wartet ein Taxi. – A taxi is waiting outside the building.
Common mistake
Using the dative after wegen: in speech "wegen dem Regen" is common, but written German prefers "wegen des Regens".
Memory tip
Formal writing uses genitive: wegen des Regens, trotz des Wetters.
Read the wider picture in our guide: German Cases Explained: Nominative, Accusative, Dative and Genitive.