Präpositionen Mit Akkusativ Und Dativ

German prepositions can be tricky for learners because some of them require the accusative case, some the dative case, and a few can take either, depending on the context. This article aims to provide a clear and practical guide to prepositions that always take the accusative or the dative case.

Prepositions with Accusative Case

Certain prepositions always govern the accusative case. This means that the noun or pronoun following the preposition will be in the accusative form. Memorizing these prepositions is essential for correct German grammar.

The Main Accusative Prepositions:

• durch (through): Indicates movement through something or a period of time.

Example: Wir fahren durch den Tunnel. (We are driving through the tunnel.)

• für (for): Expresses purpose, intention, or recipient.

Example: Das Geschenk ist für dich. (The gift is for you.)

• gegen (against, towards, around): Indicates opposition, direction towards something, or approximate time.

Example: Er läuft gegen die Wand. (He runs against the wall.)

• ohne (without): Expresses the absence of something.

Example: Ich trinke Kaffee ohne Zucker. (I drink coffee without sugar.)

• um (around, at): Indicates location around something or time (specifically clock time).

Example: Wir sitzen um den Tisch. (We are sitting around the table.)
Der Zug fährt um 10 Uhr ab. (The train leaves at 10 o'clock.)

• bis (until): Indicates a point in time or space up to which something extends. It is often used with other prepositions to specify the endpoint.

Example: Ich arbeite bis Freitag. (I work until Friday.)
Wir fahren bis zum Bahnhof. (We drive until the train station.)

• entlang (along): Indicates movement along something. It typically follows the noun it governs, which is also in the accusative case.

Example: Wir gehen die Straße entlang. (We walk along the street.)

Key takeaway: These prepositions always require the accusative case for the noun or pronoun that follows them. Using the dative case with these prepositions is grammatically incorrect.

Prepositions with Dative Case

Other prepositions always govern the dative case. Again, memorization is key to using them correctly.

The Main Dative Prepositions:

• aus (from, out of): Indicates origin, material, or a reason.

Example: Ich komme aus Deutschland. (I come from Germany.)
Das Haus ist aus Holz. (The house is made of wood.)
Er macht das aus Angst. (He does that out of fear.)

• außer (except for, besides): Indicates an exception or addition.

Example: Alle sind da außer Peter. (Everyone is here except for Peter.)
Außer Deutsch spreche ich Englisch. (Besides German, I speak English.)

• bei (at, near, with): Indicates location near something, being employed by someone, or doing something during an activity.

Example: Ich wohne bei meinen Eltern. (I live with my parents.)
Er arbeitet bei der Firma Bosch. (He works at the Bosch company.)
Beim Essen lese ich Zeitung. (While eating, I read the newspaper.)

• mit (with): Indicates accompaniment or means.

Example: Ich fahre mit dem Bus. (I go by bus.)
Sie spricht mit ihrer Freundin. (She talks with her friend.)

• nach (after, to): Indicates direction to a city, country (without article), or time after which something happens.

Example: Ich fahre nach Berlin. (I go to Berlin.)
Wir reisen nach Deutschland. (We travel to Germany.)
Nach der Arbeit gehe ich nach Hause. (After work, I go home.)

• seit (since, for): Indicates a period of time.

Example: Ich wohne seit einem Jahr hier. (I have lived here for a year.)

• von (from, by): Indicates origin, author, or possession.

Example: Das ist ein Geschenk von meiner Mutter. (That is a gift from my mother.)
Das Buch ist von Thomas Mann. (The book is by Thomas Mann.)

• zu (to): Indicates direction towards a place or person.

Example: Ich gehe zu meinem Arzt. (I go to my doctor.)
Wir fahren zum Bahnhof. (We drive to the train station.)

• gegenüber (opposite): Indicates location opposite something. It often follows the noun it governs.

Example: Das Kino ist dem Bahnhof gegenüber. (The cinema is opposite the train station.)

Key takeaway: Using the accusative case with these dative prepositions is a common error. Pay close attention to these prepositions and practice using them in sentences to solidify your understanding.

Important Considerations and Exceptions

• Contractions: Many prepositions combine with definite articles to form contractions. For example, an + dem = am, in + dem = im, zu + dem = zum, zu + der = zur. These contractions are very common and should be learned.
• The position of 'entlang' and 'gegenüber': These prepositions usually *follow* the noun or pronoun they govern, rather than preceding it. And, as mentioned above, the noun remains in the accusative (for entlang) or dative (for gegenüber).
• Word order: While the prepositions determine the case of the following noun or pronoun, the general rules of German word order still apply.

Practice and Examples

The best way to master these prepositions is through practice. Here are some examples to illustrate their use:

1. Wir gehen durch den Park. (We walk through the park.) - Accusative
2. Ich kaufe ein Geschenk für meine Schwester. (I am buying a gift for my sister.) - Accusative
3. Er arbeitet gegen seine Prinzipien. (He works against his principles.) - Accusative
4. Sie trinkt Tee ohne Milch. (She drinks tea without milk.) - Accusative
5. Der Vogel fliegt um das Haus. (The bird flies around the house.) - Accusative
6. Ich warte bis morgen. (I wait until tomorrow.) - Accusative
7. Sie geht den Fluss entlang. (She walks along the river.) - Accusative
8. Sie kommt aus der Schweiz. (She comes from Switzerland.) - Dative
9. Außer mir war niemand da. (Except for me, nobody was there.) - Dative
10. Ich wohne bei meiner Familie. (I live with my family.) - Dative
11. Ich fahre mit dem Zug. (I travel by train.) - Dative
12. Wir fliegen nach Spanien. (We fly to Spain.) - Dative
13. Ich lerne Deutsch seit drei Monaten. (I have been learning German for three months.) - Dative
14. Das Buch ist von meinem Freund. (The book is from my friend.) - Dative
15. Ich gehe zum Supermarkt. (I go to the supermarket.) - Dative (zum = zu + dem)
16. Die Apotheke ist der Bank gegenüber. (The pharmacy is opposite the bank.) - Dative

Tips for Learning and Remembering

• Flashcards: Create flashcards with the preposition on one side and example sentences on the other.
• Mnemonics: Develop mnemonic devices to help you remember the prepositions.
• Contextual Learning: Learn prepositions in context, rather than in isolation. Read German texts and pay attention to how the prepositions are used.
• Practice Exercises: Complete grammar exercises that focus specifically on accusative and dative prepositions.
• Immersion: Immerse yourself in the German language by listening to German music, watching German movies, or speaking with native speakers.
• Don't be afraid to make mistakes: Mistakes are a natural part of the learning process. Learn from your errors and keep practicing.

By understanding the principles outlined in this article and diligently practicing, you can significantly improve your mastery of German prepositions and their correct case usage.