Genitive preposition 'mittels' (by means of)

mittels is a formal genitive preposition meaning by means of / using. It names the instrument or method with which something is done. It is highly formal, common in technical, legal and administrative texts, where everyday German would simply use mit + Dativ.

Structure: mittels + Genitiv.

• Mittels eines Schlüssels öffnete er die Tür. - By means of a key he opened the door.
• Die Daten werden mittels eines Algorithmus ausgewertet. - The data are analysed by means of an algorithm.
• Der Tank wird mittels einer Pumpe entleert. - The tank is emptied using a pump.

With a bare plural lacking a genitive marker, mittels is often used with the dative or replaced by mit: mittels Sensoren / mit Sensoren.

Common mistakes:

• Using it where plain mit is more natural - in everyday speech mit dem Schlüssel is preferred.
• Case errors with the genitive: mittels eines Werkzeugs, not mittels einem Werkzeug.

'mittels' (by means of) takes the genitive.

Marks the means (by means of); takes the genitive.

'mittels' nennt ein Mittel und steht mit dem Genitiv.