B2-39 · Link costs, services and responsibilities with the genitive
Health policy
Use genitive attributes with articles, adjectives and longer noun phrases to discuss health insurance and care.
About 5 minutes to read · 12 quiz questions
01
Link two nouns with the genitive
A genitive attribute tells you whose costs, services or decision you mean. It usually follows the noun it describes: die Leistungen der Krankenkasse means the services provided by the health insurance fund. Read these extracts from a fictional discussion about local healthcare.
| Type | Base noun | Genitive attribute |
|---|---|---|
| feminine | die Krankenkasse | der Krankenkasse |
| masculine | der Beitrag | des Beitrags |
| neuter | das Gesundheitssystem | des Gesundheitssystems |
| plural | die Menschen | der Menschen |
Die Leistungen der Krankenkasse stehen im Mittelpunkt der Debatte.
The services provided by the health insurance fund are the focus of the debate.
Die Finanzierung des Gesundheitssystems ist ein wichtiges Thema.
The funding of the healthcare system is an important issue.
Die Höhe des Beitrags hängt vom Tarif ab.
The amount of the contribution depends on the tariff.
Die Versorgung der Menschen auf dem Land gehört auf die Tagesordnung.
Care for people in rural areas belongs on the agenda.
Use des for masculine and neuter singular nouns, and der for feminine nouns and plurals. Most masculine and neuter nouns also add -s or -es: des Systems, des Beitrags. Die Versorgung means care or provision of services.
02
Keep articles and adjectives together
The genitive also works with ein and possessives: eines Pflegedienstes, unserer Krankenkasse. After des, der, eines or einer, an adjective takes -en. In these meeting notes, the attribute names the organisation or group under discussion.
Die Leiterin eines privaten Pflegedienstes stellt ihren Vorschlag vor.
The manager of a private care service presents her proposal.
Die Beiträge unserer Krankenkasse bleiben in diesem Beispiel unverändert.
The contributions to our health insurance fund remain unchanged in this example.
Die Unterstützung einer erfahrenen Pflegekraft erleichtert den Alltag.
Support from an experienced care worker makes daily life easier.
Die Vertreter mehrerer kleiner Gemeinden fordern mehr Beratung.
The representatives of several small municipalities call for more advice.
Der Pflegedienst is a care service and die Pflegekraft a care worker. Feminine and plural nouns do not add a genitive -s. Without an article, mehrerer and the following adjective both take -er in the genitive plural: mehrerer kleiner Gemeinden.
03
Read longer noun phrases
Formal reports sometimes put one genitive attribute after another. In die Prüfung des Antrags der Krankenkasse, the fund has submitted the application and someone is reviewing it. Read from the main noun outwards to see how the parts fit together.
Die Prüfung des Antrags der Krankenkasse dauert eine Woche.
The review of the health insurance fund's application takes a week.
Die Finanzierung des neuen Pflegeheims ist noch offen.
The funding of the new care home is still undecided.
Die Stellungnahme der Leiterin des Pflegedienstes liegt dem Ausschuss vor.
The committee has received the statement from the manager of the care service.
Die Verbesserung der Arbeitsbedingungen der Pflegekräfte bleibt ein Ziel.
Improving care workers' working conditions remains a goal.
Der Antrag means application, die Stellungnahme a formal statement and der Ausschuss a committee. The main noun controls the verb: die Prüfung dauert, even when plural nouns occur inside its attribute. In conversation, a separate sentence often makes a long chain easier to follow.
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