Place adverbs in German indicate where something happens. They can describe fixed locations, movement toward a place, or general spatial relationships.
Examples
| German | English | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Ich bin hier. | I am here. | Indicates a fixed location near the speaker. |
| Geh dorthin! | Go there! | Indicates movement toward a specific place. |
| Sie sitzt drinnen. | She is sitting inside. | Describes being inside a building or room. |
| Wir treffen uns draußen. | We’re meeting outside. | Describes being outside. |
| Das Buch liegt oben. | The book is upstairs/on top. | Describes a higher location. |
| Schau mal unten! | Look down there! | Describes a lower location. |
Usage Rules
- Position in sentence: Place adverbs typically come after the verb or at the end of the sentence.
- Movement vs. Location: Use -hin or -her suffixes for movement (e.g., dorthin, hierher), and simple forms for fixed locations (e.g., hier, draußen).
- No declension: Place adverbs do not change form.
- Combining with prepositions: Sometimes place adverbs are used with prepositions for more detail (e.g., nach draußen, in den Garten).
Summary
German place adverbs help you specify where something takes place or where someone is headed. Use simple forms for location and -hin/-her forms for movement, and place them naturally after the verb or at the sentence end.
Schau mal unten!
Look down there!
„Schau mal unten“ means "Look down there!", directing attention to a lower location.
She goes there. (Sie ___ dorthin. (sie, gehen))
Sie geht dorthin.
'Gehen' is conjugated as 'geht' for 'sie' (singular). Repeating 'gehen' is incorrect. 'Dorhin' is a valid variant but less specific, as 'dorthin' clearly means 'to that place.'
When can place adverbs be combined with prepositions in German? (Wann können Ortsadverbien mit Präpositionen kombiniert werden?)
Um genauer zu beschreiben, z. B. nach draußen oder in den Garten.
Combining place adverbs with prepositions adds precision, such as specifying direction or location in more detail.
Flashcards (1 of 6)
- Usage: Indicates a fixed location near the speaker.
- English: I am here.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
