German Grammar

Prepositions

«« Return to general grammar resources

Accusative prepositions: für, gegen, ohne, um, bis, entlang. These prepositions trigger Accusative-case forms of articles (der/die/das; ein/eine/ein) and pronouns.

Dative prepositions: aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, zu, außer, gegenüber, entgegen. These prepositions trigger Dative-case forms of articles (der/die/das; ein/eine/ein) and pronouns.

Genitive prepositions: statt, trotz, während, wegen, innerhalb, außerhalb. These prepositions trigger Genitive-case forms of articles (der/die/das; ein/eine/ein).

  1. Prepositions that trigger Accusative endings/forms: exercise - gap-fill (Ed Curtis)
  2. Prepositions that trigger Dative endings/forms: exercise - gap-fill (Ed Curtis)
  3. Meine Winterferien in Österreich (reading text with Dative prepositions, pick the correct form)
  4. Prepositions reading text "Annas Geburtstag", focused on knowing the meanings of prepositions used only with Accusative and of prepositions used only with Dative
  5. quiz (A) on "two-way" prepositions : they use Accusative/Dative (movement/location...multiple-choice exercise)
  6. quiz (B) on "two-way" prepositions : they use Accusative/Dative (movement/location...gap-fill exercise)
  7. Quizlet card set (two-way prepositions)
  8. two-way prepositions quiz (by Hyde Flippo, at ThoughtCo)
  9. quiz on the prepositions zu & nach
  10. prepositions handout : a list of prepositions with example sentences & practice sentences ([PDF logo] PDF, 90Kb)
  11. »Mein Austauschpartner ist bei uns« - quiz practising verb and preposition combos

Two-way prepositions

Two-way prepositions: vor (in front of), hinter (behind), über (over/above), unter (under, below), zwischen (between), neben (next to), in (in), an (on/against), auf (on top of). Use the Accusative when there is movement involved. Use the Dative if no movement is implied; it's just about location.

wohin? = where to? (movement involved ➜ Accusative case) / wo? = where? (just location involved ➜ Dative case)

Definite articles (der/die/das), adjective endings for the Nominative, Accusative and Dative cases
Masculine Feminine Neuter Plural
Nominative
der blaue Behälter		 Nominative
die neue Schule		 Nominative
das alte Haus		 Nominative
die kalten Getränke
Accusative (wohin?)
den blauen Behälter		 Accusative (wohin?)
die neue Schule		 Accusative (wohin?)
das alte Haus		 Accusative (wohin?)
die kalten Getränke
Dative (wo?)
dem blauen Behälter		 Dative (wo?)
der neuen Schule		 Dative (wo?)
dem alten Haus		 Dative (wo?)
den kalten Getränken
(Photo © D. Nutting) paper-recycling container

"...in den Behälter werfen" - 'in' meaning movement (throwing) into the container = Accusative case, masculine (in den Behälter).

(Photo © D. Nutting) children's book

"...kommt in die Schule" - 'in' meaning movement into the school = Accusative case, feminine (in die Schule).

Two-way prepositions: demos

Two-way prepositions (Wechselpräpositionen): demo with pics (webgerman.com)

'vor' und 'hinter' und andere Wechselpräpositionen - ein Song/Video von Uwe Kind

Wechselpräpositionen - Goethe Institut Norwegen, mit Beispielen von Akkusativ und von Dativ, in der Stadt Oslo

Wechselpräpositionen - ein Film von Logan Moore und Ty Riley (amerikanische Schüler)

german 2 way prepositions, by Amanda, Kari, Jason, Jake and Erica

Wechselpräpositionen - Wohin? Wo? (Cary Academy - complete with bird noises!)