Prepositions in German trigger specific cases that affect article and adjective endings, so learning them by case helps you plan sentences and pick the right forms.
Prepositions: Accusative
Accusative prepositions require the direct object case, and they often signal direction or target. Learn them to describe movement and specific points in time.
German Preposition
English Preposition
durch
through
für
for
gegen
against
ohne
without
um
around / at (time)
German Example
English Translation
✈️ Das Flugzeug fliegt über die Stadt.
The plane flies over the city.
🚌 Der Bus fährt durch den Tunnel.
The bus drives through the tunnel.
🛳️ Das Schiff segelt entlang die Küste.
The ship sails along the coast.
🚗 Das Auto fährt um den Park.
The car drives around the park.
🏍️ Das Motorrad springt über die Spoiler.
The motorcycle jumps over the ramps.
Prepositions: Dative
Dative prepositions govern the indirect object case and often indicate location, recipient, or circumstance. They are key for describing static positions and beneficiaries.
German Preposition
English Preposition
aus
out of / from
bei
at / near / with
mit
with
nach
after / to (place)
seit
since / for (time)
von
from / of
zu
to / at
German Example
English Translation
🚂 Der Zug hält neben dem Bahnhof.
The train stops next to the station.
🚌 Der Bus steht vor dem Café.
The bus is in front of the café.
🚲 Das Fahrrad lehnt an dem Baum.
The bike leans against the tree.
🛴 Der Roller fährt mit dem Fußgänger.
The scooter rides with the pedestrian.
🛩️ Das kleine Flugzeug fliegt über dem Hügel.
The small plane flies over the hill.
Prepositions: Genitive
Genitive prepositions show possession, origin, or partitive relationships and are more common in formal writing. They require the genitive case, which affects article and adjective endings.
German Preposition
English Preposition
anstatt / statt
instead of
trotz
despite
während
during
wegen
because of
innerhalb
inside of
German Example
English Translation
🏢 Das Büro gegenüber des Parks ist neu.
The office opposite the park is new.
🏨 Die Zufahrt des Hotels liegt neben der Brücke.
The entrance of the hotel is next to the bridge.
🏗️ Die Baustelle innerhalb der Stadt sorgt für Stau.
The construction site within the city causes traffic jams.
🚧 Wegen des Unfalls auf der Hauptstraße ist die Umleitung eingerichtet.
Due to the accident on the main street, a detour is set up.
🌉 Die Beleuchtung der Brücke macht die Nacht heller.
The lighting of the bridge makes the night brighter.
Two-Way Prepositions
Two-way prepositions (Wechselpräpositionen) take accusative when indicating direction (movement toward a place) and dative when indicating location (static position). They include common words like in, auf, and an.
German Preposition
English Preposition
an
at / on
auf
on / upon
hinter
behind
in
in / into
neben
beside / next to
über
over / above
unter
under / among
vor
in front of
zwischen
between
German Example
English Translation
Case
Meaning
🚗 Das Auto parkt auf dem Platz.
The car is parked on the square.
Dative
Location
🚙 Sie fahren auf den Platz.
They drive onto the square.
Accusative
Direction
🧳 Wir warten neben dem Eingang.
We are waiting next to the entrance.
Dative
Location
🏃 Er läuft neben den Eingang.
He runs next to the entrance.
Accusative
Direction
🛤️ Der Zug fährt über die Brücke.
The train goes over the bridge.
Accusative
Direction
🌉 Die Straßenlaternen stehen über der Brücke.
The streetlights stand above the bridge.
Dative
Location
Summary
Prepositions govern specific cases that change noun and article forms, so group them by accusative, dative, genitive, and two-way to practice consistently.
