Prepositions Of PlaceIn German
Prepositions are words that describe the location or direction of a noun, in relationship to another.
They are used to answer 'Where' and 'Where to' questions, or Wo and Wohin questions:
| English | German | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where | Wo | Wo ist der Nussknacker? | Der Nussknacker ist in dem Karton. |
| Where to | Wohin | Wohin geht der Nussknacker? | Der Nussknacker geht in das Zimmer. |
Prepositions Of Place
Here is a table of the prepositions of place:
| Case | Preposition |
|---|---|
| Dative | ab, außer, zu, nach, bei, von, aus, mit, seit, gegenüber |
| Accusative | bis, durch, für, ohne, gegen, um |
| Two-way | in, an, auf, neben, hinter, über, unter, vor, zwischen |
You'll notice that they are divided into three types:
- dative prepositions,
- accusative prepositions,
- & two-way prepositions
Dative, Accusative & Two-Way Prepositions
1. Dative Prepositions
When a dative preposition is used, such as mit, the object noun uses the dative case:
2. Accusative Prepositions
When an accusative preposition is used, such as durch, the object noun uses the accusative case:
3. Two Way Prepositions
When a two-way preposition is used, such as auf, the object noun uses either the accusative case or the dative case, depending on whether a Wo or Wohin question is being answered:
| auf + dative | auf + accusative |
|---|---|
| Die Katze ist auf dem Tisch. | Die Katze klettert auf den Tisch. |
| The cat is on the table. | The cat climbs onto the table. |
| Where is the cat? | Where to is the cat climbing? |
Practice: Dative or Accusative?
Take a look at the sentences below. Which sentences answer a Wo question, and which Wohin?
Wo questions describe the static location of the subject, whereas Wohin questions describe the moving direction of the subject.
Click on your guess, to reveal the answer.
Well done! 🎉
Let's continue with some more exercises.
Prepositions of Place Exercises
Take a look at the sentences below. According to the preposition and implied question (Wo?/Wohin?), which case should be used?
@images @component table component with images and multi-choice buttons to click der Nussknacker steht auf dem / den Karton der Nussknacker geht um dem / den Karton der Nussknacker kommt gegen dem / den Karton der Nussknacker liegt vor dem / den Karton der Nussknacker geht mit dem / den Karton der Nussknacker steigt in dem / den Karton
Take a look at the images in the table below. Which preposition matches the image?
@images @component table component with images and multi-choice buttons to click nutcracker in front of box -- der Nussknacker steht vor / hinter / neben dem Karton nutcracker walking around the box -- der Nussknacker geht um / über / auf den Karton nutcracker getting into the box -- der Nussknacker kommt in / an / bei den Karton nutcracker under the box -- der Nussknacker liegt unter / vor / hinter dem Karton nutcracker walking with the box -- der Nussknacker geht mit / gegen / an dem Karton nutcracker getting on the box -- der Nussknacker steigt auf / von / in den Karton
Well done! 🎉
You are starting to use prepositions of place in your sentences.
@component Component - You have completed the beginner course! Great Job!
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