Breakdown of Das Gesetz schützt das Eigentum und das Recht der Frau.
die Frau
the woman
und
and
schützen
to protect
das Gesetz
the law
das Eigentum
the property
das Recht
the right
Questions & Answers about Das Gesetz schützt das Eigentum und das Recht der Frau.
Why does it say der Frau if Frau is a feminine noun?
This is the genitive case, which shows possession (translating to "of the woman" or "the woman's"). In the genitive case, the feminine definite article die changes to der. It looks exactly like the masculine nominative article, but here it marks feminine possession!
Why doesn't Frau get an extra -s at the end for the genitive case?
In German, only masculine and neuter nouns add an -s or -es in the genitive case (like des Mannes). Feminine nouns like Frau, as well as plural nouns, never get an extra ending in the genitive.
Are das Eigentum and das Recht in the nominative case here?
No, they are in the accusative case because they are the direct objects receiving the action of the verb schützt (protects). Because they are both neuter nouns, their accusative article (das) looks exactly the same as it does in the nominative.
Could I use von to say "of the woman" instead?
Yes, in spoken everyday German you will often hear von der Frau (using von plus the dative case). But in written German, especially in formal contexts like talking about das Gesetz (the law), the genitive case is the standard choice.
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