Mastering German Prepositions: A Comprehensive Guide

What are Prepositions?

Prepositions are words that link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words within a sentence. They act to connect the people, objects, time, and locations of a sentence. In German, prepositions are crucial because they determine the case of the nouns that follow them.

Common German Prepositions

Here is a list of some common German prepositions along with their English translations:

Types of German Prepositions and Their Cases

In German, prepositions dictate the case of the noun or pronoun that follows. There are prepositions that are always followed by the accusative case, those always followed by the dative case, those always followed by the genitive case, and two-way prepositions that can be followed by either the accusative or dative case depending on the context.

Prepositions with Accusative Case

The following prepositions are always followed by the accusative case:

• durch (through)
• für (for)
• gegen (against)
• ohne (without)
• um (around)

Examples:

• Ich gehe durch den Park. – I am walking through the park.
• Das Geschenk ist für meinen Bruder. – The gift is for my brother.

You can read more about accusative prepositions: here. 

Prepositions with Dative Case

The following prepositions are always followed by the dative case:

• aus (from, out of)
• bei (at, near)
• mit (with)
• nach (after, to)
• seit (since)
• von (from, of)
• zu (to)

Examples:

• Ich komme aus der Stadt. – I come from the city.
• Wir fahren mit dem Bus. – We are traveling by bus.

Check out a detailed explaination of the dative prepositions: here.

Prepositions with Genitive Case

These prepositions are followed by the genitive case:

• anstatt/statt (instead of)
• trotz (despite)
• während (during)
• wegen (because of)
• außerhalb (outside of)
• innerhalb (inside of)
• oberhalb (above)
• unterhalb (below)
• diesseits (on this side of)
• jenseits (on the other side of)
• beiderseits (on both sides of)

Examples:

• Trotz des Regens gehen wir spazieren. – Despite the rain, we are going for a walk.
• Während des Urlaubs habe ich viel gelesen. – During the vacation, I read a lot.
• Wir wohnen außerhalb der Stadt. – We live outside of the city.

Two-Way Prepositions (Wechselpräpositionen)

Two-way prepositions can be followed by either the accusative or dative case, depending on whether you ask “where to” (accusative) or “where” (dative):

• an (at, on)
• auf (on, upon)
• hinter (behind)
• in (in, into)
• neben (next to)
• über (over, above)
• unter (under)
• vor (in front of)
• zwischen (between)

Examples:

With Accusative (Where to):

• Ich gehe in die Schule. – I am going into the school.
• Sie legt das Buch auf den Tisch. – She puts the book onto the table.

With Dative (Where):

• Ich bin in der Schule. – I am in the school.
• Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch. – The book is lying on the table.

You can read more about “Wechselpräpositionen” in detail with many example sentences: here.  Addionally you find two free quizzes here: Quiz 1 and Quiz 2

Temporal Prepositions

Temporal prepositions are used to indicate time relationships. They help answer the questions "When?" or "How long?" in a sentence.

Local Prepositions

Local prepositions are used to describe the location or direction and answer the questions "Where?" (Wo?),"Where to?" (Wohin?),and "Where from?" (Woher?).

Prepositions Indicating Location (Wo?)

When indicating a static location (no movement),we use the dative case.

• Ich bin in dem Haus. – I am in the house.
• Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch. – The book is on the table.
• Wir treffen uns an der Haltestelle. – We meet at the stop.

Prepositions Indicating Direction (Wohin?)

When indicating movement towards a place, we use the accusative case.

• Ich gehe in das Haus. – I am going into the house.
• Sie legt das Buch auf den Tisch. – She puts the book onto the table.
• Wir fahren an die Küste. – We are driving to the coast.

Choosing the Right Preposition

The choice of preposition depends on the characteristics of the location:

an – At, On (Vertical Surfaces or Water Bodies)

“An” is used when something or someone is next to or on a vertical surface like a wall. We also use “an” when referring to places by the water, such as lakes, rivers, or the sea.

Examples: 

• am Meer – at the sea
• an der Wand – on the wall
• an der Haltestelle – at the stop

auf – On, Upon (Horizontal Surfaces or Public Places)

Auf" is used when something is placed on top of a flat, horizontal surface. Auf" is often used with open spaces, such as markets, squares, or farms.

Examples: 

• auf dem Tisch – on the table
• auf dem Markt – at the market
• auf der Straße – on the street

in – In (Enclosed Spaces, Countries, Cities)

In is used to describe location and movement when referring to something being inside or moving into an enclosed space, or within a country, city, or certain geographic areas.

Examples:

• im Haus – in the house
• in Deutschland – in Germany
• in der Stadt – in the city

Prepositions with Countries and Cities

For countries and cities without an article, we use nach for direction (Wohin?) and in for location (Wo?).

• Ich fahre nach Berlin. – I am driving to Berlin.
• Ich bin in Berlin. – I am in Berlin.

Prepositions with Persons

When going to a person, we use the preposition zu.

• Ich gehe zu einem Freund. – I am going to a friend.
• Sie fährt zum Arzt. – She is going to the doctor.

Prepositions Indicating Origin (Woher?)

To indicate origin, we use aus (out of) or von (from), always followed by the dative case.

• Ich komme aus dem Haus. – I am coming out of the house.
• Sie kommt von der Arbeit. – She is coming from work.

Master German Prepositions: Take Our Free Quiz

Ready to practice what you've learned? Try our free quiz: here.

Conclusion

Understanding German prepositions and their correct usage is essential for mastering the German language. By familiarizing yourself with the different types of prepositions and practicing with example sentences, you'll enhance your ability to construct accurate and natural-sounding sentences in German.

Remember, practice makes perfect. Regularly reading, writing, and speaking using these prepositions will help solidify your knowledge and improve your fluency.

FAQ: Mastering German Prepositions

What are German prepositions and why are they important?

German prepositions are words that connect nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words in a sentence. They play an essential role in indicating direction, location, time, and cause, and they dictate the case of the nouns that follow them.

Do I need to know the German cases for using prepositions?

Yes, German prepositions often require you to use the correct grammatical case (genitive, accusative, dative). Understanding the cases is essential to mastering prepositions.

What are two-way prepositions in German?

Two-way prepositions can be followed by either the accusative or dative case. The case depends on whether the sentence indicates "where to" (accusative) or "where" (dative).

Are there examples of prepositions with the accusative case?

Yes! For example, "durch" (through),"für" (for),and "um" (around) are followed by the accusative. Example: Ich gehe durch den Park (I walk through the park). You can find more details: here. 

What about prepositions with the dative case?

Dative prepositions include "aus" (from),"bei" (by/at),and "mit" (with). Example: Ich komme aus der Stadt (I come from the city).

Can I test my knowledge of German prepositions with a quiz?

Absolutely! We offer a free quiz: here.