Introduction
German prepositions are key elements for building correct sentences. They define time, location, direction, and cause/effect relationships. By mastering these prepositions and learning which cases they use (accusative, dative, genitive, or two-way), you can improve your communication skills and gain confidence in German. In this guide, we will explore different preposition types, useful examples, and internal resources for further practice.
What Are Prepositions?
Prepositions link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other parts of a sentence. They clarify context by answering questions like “Where?”, “When?”, or “Why?” In German, each preposition controls the case of the noun that follows. Some require the accusative, others the dative or genitive, while certain two-way prepositions can switch between accusative and dative depending on meaning.
Common German Prepositions
Below is a short list of frequently used German prepositions with their English translations:
| German Preposition |
English Translation |
| an |
at, on |
| auf |
on, upon |
| aus |
from, out of |
| bei |
by, near |
| für |
for |
| in |
in, into |
| mit |
with |
| nach |
after, to |
| über |
over, about |
| um |
around |
| unter |
under |
| von |
from, of |
| vor |
before, in front of |
| zu |
to |
| zwischen |
between |
Types of German Prepositions and Their Cases
Each preposition affects the noun that follows by assigning a specific case. Below is an overview of these preposition types: accusative, dative, genitive, two-way, local, and temporal. For more detailed explanations, you can explore:
German Accusative Prepositions
These prepositions always take the accusative case:
- durch (through)
- für (for)
- gegen (against)
- ohne (without)
- um (around)
Example Sentences (Accusative):
- Ich gehe durch den Park. (I am walking through the park.)
- Das Geschenk ist für meinen Bruder. (The gift is for my brother.)
- Wir sind gegen den Vorschlag. (We are against the proposal.)
- Sie geht ohne ihren Freund aus. (She goes out without her boyfriend.)
- Wir laufen um den See. (We walk around the lake.)
German Dative Prepositions
These prepositions always take the dative case. Read more about dative prepositions
here.
- aus (from, out of)
- bei (by, near, at)
- mit (with)
- nach (after, to)
- seit (since)
- von (from, of)
- zu (to)
Example Sentences (Dative):
- Ich komme aus der Stadt. (I come from the city.)
- Wir treffen uns bei meinen Eltern. (We meet at my parents’ place.)
- Ich fahre mit dem Bus. (I travel by bus.)
- Sie geht nach dem Unterricht nach Hause. (She goes home after class.)
- Er wohnt seit einem Jahr hier. (He has lived here for a year.)
- Der Brief ist von meinem Chef. (The letter is from my boss.)
- Ich gehe zu meinen Großeltern. (I am going to my grandparents.)
Master German prepositions with the help of our article and quizzes.
German Genitive Prepositions
These prepositions require the genitive case. Learn more about them
here.
- 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)
Example Sentences (Genitive):
- Trotz des Regens gehen wir spazieren. (Despite the rain, we go 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.)
- Wegen des Staus komme ich zu spät. (Because of the traffic jam, I am late.)
Two-Way Prepositions (Wechselpräpositionen)
Two-way prepositions can take either accusative or dative, depending on whether there is movement or location.
- 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)
Example Sentences with Two-Way Prepositions:
Accusative (Locomotion):
- Ich gehe in die Schule. (I go into the school.)
- Sie legt das Buch auf den Tisch. (She puts the book on the table.)
Dative (Location):
- Ich bin in der Schule. (I am in the school.)
- Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch. (The book is on the table.)
Take a look at our
in-depth guide for more examples. You can also test your knowledge with our
German Two-Way Prepositions Quiz.
Temporal Prepositions
Temporal prepositions indicate time. They answer “
When?” or “
How long?” For additional practice, see our
Temporal Prepositions guide and consider taking the
Temporal Prepositions Quiz.
| Preposition |
Meaning |
Example |
| in |
in [future context] |
In zwei Jahren werde ich fertig sein. (I will be finished in two years.) |
| seit |
since/for |
Er arbeitet seit einem Monat hier. (He has been working here for a month.) |
| vor |
ago |
Sie kam vor drei Wochen an. (She arrived three weeks ago.) |
| nach |
after |
Nach der Schule gehe ich nach Hause. (I go home after school.) |
| bis [zu] |
until/up to |
Sie bleibt hier bis zum Abend. (She stays here until the evening.) |
| von… bis [zu] |
from… to |
Der Kurs geht von Montag bis Donnerstag. (The course runs from Monday to Thursday.) |
| an |
on [date] |
An meinem Geburtstag feiern wir. (We celebrate on my birthday.) |
| um |
at [time] |
Das Meeting beginnt um 14 Uhr. (The meeting starts at 2 pm.) |
| ab |
starting from |
Ab nächster Woche habe ich Urlaub. (I am on vacation starting next week.) |
| gegen |
around |
Tina kommt gegen 8 Uhr an. (Tina arrives around 8 o’clock.) |
| während |
during |
Während der Pause trinken wir Kaffee. (We drink coffee during the break.) |
Local Prepositions
Local prepositions describe locations or directions. For more specific details, visit our
German Local Prepositions page.
Location (Wo?) – Static (Dative)
- Ich bin in der Schule. (I am in the school.)
- Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch. (The book is on the table.)
- Wir treffen uns an der Haltestelle. (We meet at the bus stop.)
Direction (Wohin?) – Movement (Accusative)
- Ich gehe in die Schule. (I go into the school.)
- Sie legt das Buch auf den Tisch. (She puts the book on the table.)
- Wir fahren an die Küste. (We drive to the coast.)
Choosing the Right Preposition
The best preposition choice relies on context. “An” is used for vertical surfaces or bodies of water, “auf” for horizontal surfaces or public areas, and “in” for enclosed spaces or larger areas like countries. For countries and cities without an article, use
nach for direction (e.g.,
nach Berlin) and
in for location (e.g.,
in Berlin).
When heading to a person, use
zu. To show origin, use
aus (out of) or
von (from), which both take the dative.
Conclusion
German prepositions form the backbone of proper sentence construction. They decide how nouns shift in case and meaning. By memorizing key lists (accusative, dative, genitive, and two-way), practicing with local and temporal contexts, and exploring more detailed references, you’ll develop strong German skills. Keep practicing with quizzes, forming your own sentences, and reviewing case rules to become comfortable with these building blocks of the language.
Looking to test your knowledge? We offer several free quizzes:
FAQ
Do all prepositions require the same case?
No. Some take accusative, some dative, some genitive, and two-way prepositions can take either accusative or dative.
How do I know if a two-way preposition needs accusative or dative?
If it indicates movement toward a destination, use accusative. If it indicates static location, use dative.
Which preposition should I use for time expressions?
Temporal prepositions like
in,
nach,
seit, and
vor show different time relationships. Check our
temporal prepositions guide for details.
Are genitive prepositions still common?
They are less common in everyday speech, but still valid in formal or written contexts. Learn more
here.
How can I practice these prepositions effectively?
Use them in your own sentences daily, read German texts focusing on prepositions, and try our
free German preposition quizzes to reinforce your learning.
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