Genitive preposition 'anhand' (on the basis of)

anhand means on the basis of / by means of and governs the genitive. It introduces the data, example or material used to demonstrate or explain something; it is typical of academic and analytical writing (everyday synonym: mithilfe von).

Pattern: anhand + genitive.

• Anhand der Daten erklärt er das Problem. - On the basis of the data he explains the problem.
• Anhand eines Beispiels wird die Regel klar. - The rule becomes clear by means of an example.
• Die Echtheit lässt sich anhand des Wasserzeichens prüfen. - Authenticity can be checked by means of the watermark.

Common mistakes:

• Using a dative (wrong: anhand den Daten; right: anhand der Daten).
• With a determiner-less noun the genitive cannot be marked, so use von: anhand von Beispielen.

'anhand' (on the basis of) takes the genitive.

Means 'on the basis of / using'; takes the genitive.

'anhand' (mithilfe von) steht mit dem Genitiv.