Genitive preposition 'kraft' (by virtue of)

kraft means by virtue of / on the strength of and governs the genitive. It is a markedly formal, legal/administrative preposition expressing that something happens through an authority, office or power.

Pattern: kraft + genitive (usually with no article).

• Kraft seines Amtes entscheidet er. - By virtue of his office he decides.
• Kraft Gesetzes ist der Vertrag nichtig. - By operation of law the contract is void.
• Sie handelte kraft ihrer Vollmacht. - She acted by virtue of her authorisation.

Common mistakes:

• Confusing the preposition kraft with the noun die Kraft (strength) - the preposition is written lower-case mid-sentence.
• Using the dative (wrong: kraft seinem Amt; right: kraft seines Amtes).

'kraft' (by virtue of) takes the genitive.

Means 'by virtue of (an authority)'; takes the genitive.

'kraft' (aufgrund einer Befugnis) steht mit dem Genitiv.