My student Aldo (see Snow in Duisburg - Muelheim) and I just discussed Genitiv -s. According to the new German spelling you should write the "s" now together with the names.
As I studied German at the university I learnt that Genitiv -s is written after an apostrophe. Then I remembered how it is, if the names end with alphabet x or alphabet s. Unfortunately there are neither examples nor further information in the book studio d A2 Deutsch als Fremdsprache Kurs- und Uebungsbuch (Berlin: Cornelsen, 2007/06).
Following the examples from that book:
1. Das ist die aelteste Tochter von Petra. Ach so, das ist Petras aelteste Tochter.
2. Das sind die Kinder von Nadine. Ach so, das sind Nadines Kinder.
3. Das ist die Tochter von Susanne. Ach so, das ist Susannes Tochter.
4. Das ist die Frau von Jan. Ach so, das ist Jans Frau.
"Hmm, it would be "dangerous", if Aldo would ask me, because it has to do with him :-)", so I have thought. Then I thought further, it would be better if I just tell him before he asks me. So, then I told Aldo, that I will find out how Genitiv -s is in names, which end with alphabet x or alphabet s. I owed him an explanation.
Again, I asked my friends in Germany. :-) (I consider all friends :-) )
Mrs Engelhardt in Karlsruhe:
About genitive form in names: Alex' Gitarre, Klaus' Zimmer. You can also say: Alexens Gitarre, Klausens Zimmer. Klauss Zimmer ist not possible.
Ulli in Hamburg:
You already have written the right solution: just give an apostrophe. So: Alex' s Gitarre, Dennis' s Motorrad.
As promised I already informed Aldo.
Oh no, I just remembered the German names Heinz and Franz as I wrote this article. How is the Genitiv -s in these names? No time anymore to ask German friends. :-( I assume that the rule is same as the rule for names which end with alphabets x and s. So: Heinz' s Mutter, Franz' s Fahrrad. ;-)
Back to text 25: Two Orange Juice, Please.
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