Possessivkonstruktion

Possessivkonstruktion is a term from linguistic syntax that refers to constructions used to express possession or a possessive relationship between a possessor and the possessed item. They encode who owns or is closely connected to something and can convey additional nuances such as kinship, authorship, or association. Different languages realize possession in distinct ways, but the underlying idea is the same: linking a possessor to a possessed noun.

In German, possessive relations are commonly realized in three main ways. First, possessive adjectives or determiners (Possessivadjektive) such as mein, dein, sein, ihr, unser, euer, ihr appear directly before the noun: mein Haus, sein Auto. Second, the genitive construction uses the possessor in the genitive case: das Auto meines Bruders, die Farbe seines Autos. Third, a periphrastic construction with the preposition von expresses possession without a genitive: das Auto von meinem Bruder. In formal writing, the genitive is often preferred, while the von-Konstruktion is frequent in spoken language.

Cross-linguistically, languages vary in their default possessive strategy. Some rely on possessor suffixes, others on noun-noun compounds or postnominal possessors. In English, possession is frequently marked by ’s or by the of-phrase: John’s book or the book of John. The choice among these options can affect emphasis, formality, and stylistic tone.

See also: Possessivadjektiv, Possessivpronomen, Genitiv, Von-Konstruktion.