Prepositions in German are words that describe the relationship between nouns, pronouns, or phrases in a sentence, indicating direction, location, time, or manner. Each preposition governs a specific case (accusative, dative, or genitive), which affects the form of the noun or pronoun that follows.
- Accusative prepositions (e.g., durch, für, gegen, ohne, um) are used when the preposition implies movement or direction.
- Dative prepositions (e.g., aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, zu) are used for location or when there is no movement.
- Two-way prepositions (e.g., an, auf, hinter, in, neben, über, unter, vor, zwischen) can take either accusative or dative depending on whether there is movement (accusative) or location (dative).
- Genitive prepositions (e.g., während, wegen, trotz, statt) are less common and indicate possession or cause.
Understanding which case a preposition requires is key to German grammar and helps with proper sentence construction and meaning.
A2
B1
Table of Contents
- Accusative, Dative, Genitive Prepositions
Accusative, dative, and genitive prepositions in German, including lists of common prepositions, explanations of their roles in sentences, and how they determine the case of the articles and nouns that follow them.
- Two-way Prepositions (Wechselpräpositionen)
Two-way prepositions in German that can be used with either the accusative or dative case, indicating direction or location depending on context.
- Prepositions of Place
Prepositions of place in German, including definitions, usage rules, and examples for expressing location and spatial relationships.
- Prepositions of Time
German prepositions that indicate time, showing how to use auf, in, an, vor, um, etc. with examples.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
