ortPlayCases in context
German two-way prepositions: where, or where to?
An, auf, hinter, in, neben, über, unter, vor and zwischen can take the dative or accusative. For their spatial uses, learn the relationship expressed by the whole phrase.
The nine prepositions in spatial examples
| Preposition | Useful meaning | Location · dative | Destination · accusative |
|---|---|---|---|
| an | at / against | an der Wand | an die Wand |
| auf | on / onto | auf dem Tisch | auf den Tisch |
| hinter | behind | hinter dem Haus | hinter das Haus |
| in | in / into | in der Tasche | in die Tasche |
| neben | next to | neben dem Stuhl | neben den Stuhl |
| über | above / over | über dem Bett | über das Bett |
| unter | under | unter dem Tisch | unter den Tisch |
| vor | in front of | vor der Tür | vor die Tür |
| zwischen | between | zwischen den Stühlen | zwischen die Stühle |
These are spatial examples, not a complete list of each preposition’s meanings. A phrase needs a sentence and an intended meaning to determine its case.
The definite articles after a two-way preposition
| Noun group | Dative · location | Accusative · destination |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | dem Tisch | den Tisch |
| Feminine | der Tür | die Tür |
| Neuter | dem Bett | das Bett |
| Plural | den Stühlen | die Stühle |
Dative plurals often add -n to the noun if its plural does not already end in -n or -s: Stühle → Stühlen.
Recognize the common short forms
| Short form | Expanded form | Case here |
|---|---|---|
| im | in dem | dative |
| am | an dem | dative |
| ins | in das | accusative |
| ans | an das | accusative |
These contractions are common when the article is not stressed. The choice between a contraction and separate words can depend on meaning and emphasis.
Compare what stays in place with what gets put there
Ask what the prepositional phrase contributes. In the first example of each pair, it tells you where something is. In the second, it names the place that the action puts it.
Die Tasche steht neben dem Stuhl.
The bag is next to the chair.
Ich stelle die Tasche neben den Stuhl.
I put the bag next to the chair.
Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch.
The book is lying on the table.
Ich lege das Buch auf den Tisch.
I put the book on the table.
Das Bild hängt an der Wand.
The picture is hanging on the wall.
Wir hängen das Bild an die Wand.
We hang the picture on the wall.
Movement can happen in a location
A person can move while remaining inside the place described. In that case the location phrase takes the dative. Compare walking around inside a room with walking into it.
Die Kinder laufen im Zimmer herum.
The children are running around in the room.
Im Zimmer says where the running happens.
Die Kinder laufen ins Zimmer.
The children run into the room.
Ins Zimmer names their destination.
Wir schwimmen im See.
We are swimming in the lake.
There is movement, but the phrase describes the place of the activity.
Keep the rule within its useful limits
The where/where-to distinction is a starting point for spatial meanings. It does not decide every use of these words. Fixed verb-preposition combinations and time expressions need to be learned in their own right.
Nor does every destination take the accusative. Zu takes the dative: zum Bahnhof means “to the station.” Zu is not one of the nine two-way prepositions.
Ich warte auf den Bus.
I am waiting for the bus.
Warten auf takes the accusative; the bus is not a destination here.
Wir sprechen über den Film.
We are talking about the film.
Über means “about” here, not a spatial position.
Ich gehe zum Bahnhof.
I am going to the station.
Zum = zu dem. Learn zu with the dative.
Try it yourself
A short practice round
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Question 1 of 6
All questions, answers and explanations
Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch.
The book is already lying on the table. Tisch is masculine.
dem. The phrase gives the book’s location: dative dem Tisch.
Ich lege das Buch auf den Tisch.
I put the book onto the table. Tisch is masculine.
den. The action puts the book in this destination: accusative den Tisch.
Die Kinder laufen im Zimmer herum.
The children run around inside the room, without entering it.
im. The room is the location of the running: in dem → im.
Wir stellen die Schuhe vor die Tür.
We put the shoes in front of the door. Tür is feminine.
die. The phrase names where the shoes are being put: accusative die Tür.
Das Bild hängt über dem Bett.
The picture is hanging above the bed. Bett is neuter.
dem. It describes a position: dative dem Bett.
Die Tasche liegt zwischen den Stühlen.
The bag is lying between the chairs. Plural.
den. A plural dative phrase uses den; Stühle also becomes Stühlen.
Sources
Wortplay wrote the explanations, translations and examples on this page.
- IDS grammis: two-way prepositions
Location, movement within a location and a destination.
- IDS grammis: prepositional groups
The nine two-way prepositions and case distinctions.
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