Lesson 3: PREPOSITIONS
Prepositions, like nouns, can be used in various
cases. Some prepositions are
characteristic to a certain case, while others depend on the questions
“where” or “to where.”
The third column of
the table below is called "Accusative/Dative" because the
preposition can act in both situations depending on the action. If
the preposition answers the question, "Where?" then the
preposition will have a dative effect on its object. If the
preposition answers the question, "To where?" then the
preposition will have a dative effect on its object.
Accusative Example:
Ich gehe unter das Auto. (I go under the car.)
In this example, the
preposition unter answers "to where" because the verb is
gehen, (to go). "To where do I go?" Ich gehe
under das Auto (I go under the
car). Because unter answers "to where," the case of its
object, "das Auto" is accusative [accusative neuter].
Dative Example: Ich
bin unter dem Auto. (I am under the car.)
In this example, the
preposition unter answers "where" rather than "to
where." This is because the verb is sein, (to be). It
shows a state of being, rather than a movement from one place to
another. Because unter here answers "where," the case of
its object is dative, "dem Auto" [dative neuter].
Here is a table of common prepositions in their
respective cases.
| Accusative |
Dative |
Accusative/Dative |
| durch |
through |
aus |
from |
an |
on/at |
| für |
for |
ausser |
except |
auf |
on/in |
| gegen |
against |
bei |
by |
hinter |
behind |
| ohne |
without |
mit |
with |
in |
in |
| um |
at |
nach |
after |
neben |
next to |
| bis |
until |
seit |
since |
über |
above |
| |
von |
from |
unter |
under |
| zu |
to |
zwischen |
between |
| |
vor |
before |
Prepositions are placed how they would be in English-
before an object. Prepositions
may or may not be used with definite and indefinite articles, and the ein-words.
If such words are used, the endings of these words must be made
accordingly with the proper gender and case.
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