genitivmodifierare

Genitivmodifierare are attributive noun phrases that modify a head noun by expressing possession, association, or a related relation. They are realized through the genitive form of the possessor and function as a pre-nominal modifier of the noun they describe. The construction is common in several Germanic languages and is analyzed as a genitive attribute within a larger noun phrase.

In Swedish, a possessor can be marked in two main ways. One is the genitive suffix -s attached to the possessor noun (for example, Kalles bil, “Kalle’s car”). The other is a possessive determiner such as hans, hennes, din, din, vår, deras preceding the head noun (for example, hans bok, “his book”). The genitivmodifier typically precedes the head noun and agreement in definiteness and number between possessor and head noun is governed by the language’s grammar.

The primary function of genitivmodifierare is to show ownership or a close association, but they can also indicate origin, material, or characteristic relationships. They are distinct from adjectives in that the modifier expresses a possessive relation rather than a descriptive attribute. In some languages, genitive attributes can appear after the head noun or in different syntactic positions, reflecting language-specific word order and case-marking rules.

Cross-linguistically, genitive modifiers are part of the broader set of possessive constructions. In German, for instance, genitive attributes occur with the genitive article before the head noun (des Mannes Hut). In English, possessive determiners or post-head “of” phrases serve a similar function.