You will find a list of prepositions used in everyday German together with lots of examples and explanations.

Essential reading for anyone learning German. First of all, in case you are wondering: 'What is a preposition?' Quite simply, a preposition is a word which describes a relationship between anoun or a pronoun and another element of a sentence. Let's take a look at a few examples in English before we get started. I will highlight all prepositions in blue for better understanding. On the phone By the phone Behind the phone Inside the phone Below the phone Easy, right? Well, maybe in English. German prepositions, however, are more difficult to learn because of those pesky German cases. Confused, don't be! All will become clear very soon. So what have the cases got to do with the German prepositions? Actually, quite a lot! In German, the case of a pronoun and noun is determined by the preposition it occurs with. To confuse matters, some prepositions take just one case, others can take two depending on the sentence. Why is it so important to learn which case a German preposition takes? Quite simply, because the case will decide how the nouns following the preposition are 'declined' (i.e. formed). The following three tables will list: 1. German prepositions which only take the accusative case 2. German prepositions which only take the dative case 3. German prepositions which can take both the accusative and dative cases. N.B It is easier to learn those prepositions which take just one case to begin with. 1. German prepositions which only take the accusative case The first table listed here shows the prepositions which will only ever take the accusative case, i.e. they will take an object in the accusative case, and thus follow the grammatical rules of this case. (For more information about the accusative case, please click here.) For clarity's sake, the object taking the accusative case will be highlighted in blue. Preposition In English Example Example in English

bis durch entlang fr

until / to / by through / by along / down for

Bis nchsten Freitagmuss die Arbeit fertig sein Ich habe durch die Nachtgearbeitet Ich fahre die Straeentlang Wir tun alles fr ihn

The work has to be completed by next Friday I worked through the night I drive down the street We do everything for him

gegen

about / against / contrary to without around / at against

Gegen den Wind Ohne meine Tasche kann ich nicht einkaufen gehen Um die Ecke ist mein Haus Wider meine Beratunghat er das gekauft

Against the wind I cannot go shopping without my bag My house is around the corner He bought it against my advice

ohne um wider

2. German prepositions which only take the dative case The table here shows the prepositions which will only ever take the dative case, i.e. they will take an object in the dative case and thus followthe grammatical rules of this case. (For more about the dative case, please click here.) For clarity's sake, the object taking the dative case will be highlighted in blue. Preposition ab In English from Example Ab nchster Woche bin ich wieder zu erreichen Example in English I will be available again from next week

aus

Due to security reasons we due to / from /out Aus Sicherheitsgrndenbitten wir Sie, Ihr ask you not to leave your of Gepck nicht unbeaufsichtigt zu lassen luggage unattended apart from / except for / besides There was no-one there apart from my mother He lives at his father's Thanks to my brother I can afford the book Contrary to all expectations I won According to expectations You will find lots of shops opposite the hospital According to the law he is guilty

auer

Auer meiner Mutterwar niemand da

bei dank

at / near / next to Er wohnt bei seinem Vater thanks to / due to / owing to contrary to / against according to / corresponding to opposite (to)/ across from / Dank meinem Bruderkann ich mir das Buch leisten Entgegen aller Erwartungen habe ich gewonnen Den Erwartungenentsprechend Gegenber dem Krankenhaus finden Sie viele Geschfte

entgegen

entsprechend

gegenber

gem

according to / Gem dem Gesetz ist er schuldig under the terms of

mit nach samt

with / by to / after including / together with since / for

Ich gehe morgen mitmeiner Familie in die I am going into town Stadt tomorrow with my family Nach dem ersten Weltkrieg Samt seinem Sohn geht er zum Zoo After the first world war He is going to the zoo together with his son I have been learning German for a year We heard it from the neighbours We are driving to my sister tomorrow Rumour has it he wants to retire

seit

Seit einem Jahr lerne ich Deutsch

von

by / from / of

Wir haben es von den Nachbarn gehrt

zu

at / to

Morgen fahren wir zumeiner Schwester Einem Gerucht zufolge will er in Rente gehen

zufolge*

according to

*The preposition 'zufolge' is sometimes, although less often, also found in the genitive case where it is positioned before the noun. Used mostoften in Swiss German and legal documents. 3. German prepositions which take both the accusative and dative cases Before we take a look at these prepositions, you need to know how to determine if the preposition takes the accusative or dative case. It can be determined, quite simply, by asking either wo? (where?) or wohin?(where to?). When describing a movement to a certain place (where to?), the preposition will always occur in the accusative case and, therefore, decline the noun in the accusative case. Examples: 1. Ich fahre in die Stadt (I am driving into town). Where am I driving to? To town. 'In' is, therefore, found here in the accusative case. However, when there is no movement involved and a fixed place is being talked about (where?), then the dative case is used. 2. Ich wohne in der Stadt (I live in the town). Where do I live? In the town. 'In' is, therefore, here in the dative case. (By the way, the dative case, is also always used after the question, woher? - where from?) Let's now take a look at the following table which details prepositions using both the accusative and dative case. Preposition In English Accusative Example In English Dative Example In English

an

Die Bewerbung soll an die to / in / at Personalabteilunggeschickt werden

The application should be sent Ich bin ander to the personnel Ampel department I am putting the Wir sitzen plates on the auf einer Bank table

I am at the traffic lights

auf

upon / on / Ich stelle die Teller auf den at / to Tisch

We are sitting on a bench

hinter

behind

Ich gehe hinterden Vorhang

I am going behind the curtain

The vacuum Hinter dem cleaner is Vorhang ist der behind the Staubsauger curtain Wir kaufen in der Stadtein We are shopping in town

in

We are driving into / in /at Morgen fahren wir in die Stadt into town tomorrow next to / near / Kannst Du bitte den Tisch beside / nebendie Wandstellen? adjacent to over / across / above / about under / among / beneath

neben

Can you please Der Tisch steht The table is put the table schon neben der already next to next to the wall? Wand the wall

ber

Wir fahren bereinen Hgel

We are driving over a hill

ber dem Regenbogen

Over the rainbow

unter

Ich fahre unterdie Brcke

The dog is I am driving Der Hund liegt laying under the bridge unterdem Tisch underneath the table We are waiting in front of the car park I am standing between the two cars

vor

Can you please in front of / Stellst du die Eier bitte vor die put the eggs in before Tr? front of the door? Ich habe den Ball between / zwischen seine in between Beine geworfen! I threw the ball between his legs!

Wir wartenvor demParkhaus

zwischen

Ich stehe zwischenden zwei Autos