ihrer

Ihrer is a German possessive form that derives from the pronoun ihr and appears in several roles and cases. It can function as a possessive determiner before a noun, indicating possession, or as a possessive pronoun standing in for a noun. The word is used for third-person singular feminine (her) and third-person plural (their), and in the formal address (Sie) it marks possession for the person being spoken to. Capitalization is a key clue: the formal possessive forms are capitalized to distinguish them from the lowercase forms that refer to third-person possessors.

In the formal address, the possessive determiner inflects like other German possessives. For example, in the dative feminine singular you would encounter a form like Ihrer, as in Ich helfe Ihrer Mutter (I am helping your mother). Other cases and numbers follow standard declension patterns for Ihr- forms. When used as a possessive pronoun referring to the formal addressee, the same capitalization helps avoid confusion with third-person forms.

In non-formal contexts, i.e., when ihr means her or their, the forms are lowercase. Examples include ihre Mutter (her mother) and ihrer Schwester (of her sister). The distinction between formal and informal usage is a central feature of German possessive grammar and is signaled by capitalization in writing.

Examples:

- Ist das Ihr Auto? (Is that your car? formal)

- Ich danke Ihnen. (I thank you; polite form)

- Das Auto ihrer Schwester ist neu. (The car of her sister)

- Ihre Hilfe war wertvoll. (Your help was valuable; formal address)

See also: German grammar, possessive determiners, possessive pronouns, capitalization rules.