German · A2 · Everyday language
Whose one is this? in German
Identify whose things are whose using standalone possessive pronouns such as meiner, meine and meins. These mean “mine” and replace the object’s name.
What you'll learn
- Say who owns an object without repeating its name.
- Choose a possessive pronoun that matches the object’s grammatical gender.
- Ask whether something is yours, hers or ours.
German phrases for whose one is this?
Dieser Schal ist meiner.
This scarf is mine.
Meiner matches the masculine noun der Schal.
Ist das deine Flasche?
Is that bottle yours?
This is the natural everyday wording. To avoid repeating Flasche once it is known, ask: Ist das deine? (Is that yours?)
Das gestreifte Handtuch ist seins.
The striped towel is his.
Seins means “his” and matches the neuter noun das Handtuch.
Der kleine Koffer ist ihrer.
The little suitcase is hers.
Ihrer means “hers” and matches the masculine noun der Koffer.
Welcher Regenschirm ist unserer?
Which umbrella is ours?
Unserer matches the masculine noun der Regenschirm.
Der blaue Helm ist deiner.
The blue helmet is yours.
Deiner matches der Helm. Here, “yours” refers to one person addressed informally.
Dieser Korb ist nicht meiner.
That basket is not mine.
Meiner matches der Korb. Nicht meiner means “not mine”; dieser can identify a basket being pointed out.
Ist dieser Schlüssel deiner oder ihrer?
Is this key yours or hers?
Both deiner and ihrer match the masculine noun der Schlüssel.
Hear these phrases and practise them
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
der Schal
scarf
Plural: die Schals.
die Flasche
bottle
Plural: die Flaschen.
das Handtuch
towel
Plural: die Handtücher.
der Koffer
suitcase
Plural: die Koffer.
der Regenschirm
umbrella
Plural: die Regenschirme.
der Helm
helmet
Plural: die Helme.
der Korb
basket
Plural: die Körbe.
der Schlüssel
key
Plural: die Schlüssel.
Choose the ending for the object
A standalone possessive pronoun replaces a noun. Its ending matches the thing owned, not the owner. In these sentences with sein (to be), use the nominative forms.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine: der | meiner | Dieser Schal ist meiner. — This scarf is mine. |
| Feminine: die | meine | Diese Flasche ist meine. — This bottle is mine. |
| Neuter: das | meins | Dieses Handtuch ist meins. — This towel is mine. |
| Plural: die | meine | Diese Schlüssel sind meine. — These keys are mine. |
Choose the form for the owner
The beginning tells you who owns the object. The forms below are listed in this order: masculine, feminine, neuter, plural. Meins, deins and seins are common everyday forms; meines, deines and seines are also correct.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Mine | meiner, meine, meins, meine | Der Korb ist meiner. — The basket is mine. |
| Yours: one person, informal | deiner, deine, deins, deine | Die Flasche ist deine. — The bottle is yours. |
| His | seiner, seine, seins, seine | Das Handtuch ist seins. — The towel is his. |
| Hers | ihrer, ihre, ihres, ihre | Der Koffer ist ihrer. — The suitcase is hers. |
| Ours | unserer, unsere, unseres, unsere | Der Regenschirm ist unserer. — The umbrella is ours. |
| Yours: several people, informal | eurer, eure, eures, eure | Der Helm ist eurer. — The helmet is yours. |
| Theirs | ihrer, ihre, ihres, ihre | Die Schlüssel sind ihre. — The keys are theirs. |
| Yours: polite address | Ihrer, Ihre, Ihres, Ihre | Ist dieser Koffer Ihrer? — Is this suitcase yours? |
Leave out the object’s name when it is clear
Compare meine Flasche (my bottle) with meine (mine). A standalone pronoun has no noun after it. Even with das meaning “that,” choose the possessive form to match the understood object.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Talking about a bottle | Ist das deine? | Ist das deine? — Is that yours? |
| Talking about a key | deiner oder ihrer | Ist das deiner oder ihrer? — Is that yours or hers? |
More examples
Ist dieser Schal deiner? — Ja, das ist meiner.
Is this scarf yours? — Yes, that is mine.
Deiner and meiner both refer to der Schal.
Ist diese Flasche deine? — Nein, das ist ihre.
Is this bottle yours? — No, that is hers.
Deine and ihre both refer to die Flasche.
Welches Handtuch ist unseres? — Das gestreifte Handtuch ist unseres.
Which towel is ours? — The striped towel is ours.
Unseres matches the neuter noun das Handtuch.