When reading the news, official announcements, or formal invitations in German, you will often encounter specialized prepositions. Two common ones used to describe circumstances, events, or causes are anlässlich and angesichts.
Both of these formal prepositions require the genitive case.
Anlässlich (On the occasion of)
The preposition anlässlich expresses the occasion or reason for an event. You will frequently see it paired with celebrations, ceremonies, and official public events.
| on the occasion of | anlässlich |
Because it requires the genitive case, feminine articles change to der, while masculine and neuter articles change to des (and the noun takes an -s or -es ending).
| On the occasion of the opening, a reception will take place. | Anlässlich der Eröffnung wird ein Empfang stattfinden. |
| The mayor is organizing a festive reception on the occasion of the inauguration. | Der Bürgermeister organisiert anlässlich der Einweihung einen feierlichen Empfang. |
| On the occasion of the holiday, the president is giving a reception. | Anlässlich des Feiertags gibt der Präsident einen Empfang. |
Angesichts (In view of)
The preposition angesichts means "in view of", "given", or "considering" (literally: "in the face of"). It expresses that an action is a direct result of a specific circumstance, challenge, or crisis.
| in view of | angesichts |
Just like anlässlich, it always takes the genitive case.
| In view of the challenge, the resignation of the mayor is a problem. | Angesichts der Herausforderung ist der Rücktritt des Bürgermeisters ein Problem. |
| In view of the crisis, we are postponing the opening. | Angesichts der Krise verschieben wir die Eröffnung. |
| In view of the storm, the mayor canceled the reception. | Angesichts des Sturms sagte der Bürgermeister den Empfang ab. |