Prepositional Phrases

The preposition an can indicate position on a vertical surface, time at a specific moment, or direction toward a place. Common phrases pair an with the dative or accusative depending on whether the context is static or dynamic.

Use auf for surfaces, events, and markets when referring to location or movement. Phrases with auf often appear in contexts like going to a place, waiting auf someone, or placing something auf a table.

In signals being inside something or moving into an enclosed space. It governs dative for location and accusative for direction. Many expressions relate to countries, rooms, and time periods.

Für marks purpose, recipient, or duration when translating "for." It consistently takes the accusative case and appears in phrases about gifts, support, plans, and more.

Mit denotes accompaniment, means, or manner and always takes the dative. It's common in expressions about traveling mit someone, doing something mit einem Werkzeug, or sharing time mit Freunden.

Bei relates to being at a place, working bei a company, or staying bei someone. It takes the dative and often appears in contexts of proximity, association, or residence.

Von shows origin, possession, or authorship and governs the dative. It's used in phrases about gifts von jemandem, Tellings von Ereignissen, or Fragments von Dingen.

Zu indicates movement toward people or places, purpose, and occasions. It takes the dative and is typical in phrases like going zu einem Arzt, attending a event zu Ehren, or bringen zu jemandem.

Signal words help identify whether a prepositional phrase requires movement (accusative) or location (dative) and which preposition to use. Pay attention to time expressions, verbs of motion, and set phrases to choose the correct case and preposition.

Prepositional phrases consistently unite meaning through case and preposition. Learn key expressions with each preposition and practice switching between dative and accusative in contexts of location versus direction to sound natural.