Language/German/Grammar/Using-Prepositions

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German → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Prepositions → Using Prepositions

Introduction

In this lesson, we will explore the usage of prepositions in German. Prepositions are an integral part of the German language, and they play a crucial role in connecting words, phrases, and clauses. By understanding how prepositions work, you will be able to express relationships between different elements in a sentence more accurately. In this lesson, we will focus on using prepositions with common verbs and expressions. Let's dive in!

Basic Overview of Prepositions

Before we explore the usage of prepositions with verbs and expressions, let's have a basic overview of prepositions in German. Prepositions are words that establish a relationship between different elements in a sentence. They indicate location, direction, time, manner, and other relationships. In German, prepositions are usually followed by a noun or pronoun in a specific case (accusative, dative, or genitive). The case determines the form of the noun or pronoun that follows the preposition.

Here are some common prepositions in German:

• in (in)
• auf (on, onto)
• unter (under)
• vor (in front of)
• hinter (behind)
• neben (next to)
• über (over)
• bei (at, near)
• mit (with)
• ohne (without)

These are just a few examples, and there are many more prepositions in German. Each preposition requires a specific case, and it's important to learn the correct case for each preposition.

Using Prepositions with Verbs

Prepositions are frequently used with verbs to express various meanings and relationships. Let's take a look at some common verbs and the prepositions that are commonly used with them.

Verbs with Accusative Prepositions

Accusative prepositions are used when the verb indicates a motion or direction towards a specific place or object.

Example 1: "gehen" (to go)

• in (into, to)
• an (to, at)
• auf (onto)

Here are some examples:

German	Pronunciation	English
Ich gehe in die Schule.	[ɪç ˈɡeːə ɪn diː ˈʃuːlə]	I go to school.
Er geht an den See.	[eːɐ̯ ɡeːt ʔan deːn zeː]	He goes to the lake.
Wir gehen auf den Berg.	[vɪʁ ˈɡeːən aʊ̯f deːn bɛʁk]	We go onto the mountain.

Example 2: "setzen" (to put, to set)

• auf (on)
• an (against)
• unter (under)

Here are some examples:

German	Pronunciation	English
Sie setzt das Buch auf den Tisch.	[ziː ˈzɛts das buːχ aʊ̯f deːn tɪʃ]	She puts the book on the table.
Er setzt sich an den Schreibtisch.	[eːɐ̯ ˈzɛts zɪç ʔan deːn ˈʃʁaɪ̯ptɪʃ]	He sits at the desk.
Die Katze setzt sich unter das Bett.	[diː ˈkat͡sə zɛts zɪç ˈʔʊntɐ das bɛt]	The cat goes under the bed.

Verbs with Dative Prepositions

Dative prepositions are used when the verb indicates a stationary position or location.

Example 1: "wohnen" (to live)

• in (in)
• bei (at, near)
• an (on)

Here are some examples:

German	Pronunciation	English
Ich wohne in einem Haus.	[ɪç ˈvoːnə ɪn ˈaɪ̯nəm haʊ̯s]	I live in a house.
Sie wohnt bei ihren Eltern.	[ziː ˈvoːnt baɪ̯ ˈʔaɪ̯ʁən ˈɛl.tɐn]	She lives near her parents.
Er wohnt an der Hauptstraße.	[eːɐ̯ ˈvoːnt ʔan deːɐ̯ ˈhaʊ̯ptˌʃtʁaːsə]	He lives on the main street.

Example 2: "helfen" (to help)

• bei (at, with)
• mit (with)
• zu (to)

Here are some examples:

German	Pronunciation	English
Ich helfe ihr bei den Hausaufgaben.	[ɪç ˈhɛlfə iːɐ̯ baɪ̯ deːn ˈhaʊ̯sˌʔaʊ̯fɡaːbən]	I help her with the homework.
Sie hilft mir mit dem Umzug.	[ziː hɪlft mɪʁ mɪt deːm ˈʔʊmt͡suːk]	She helps me with the move.
Er hilft uns zu gewinnen.	[eːɐ̯ hɪlft ʊns t͡su ɡəˈvɪnən]	He helps us to win.

Verbs with Genitive Prepositions

Genitive prepositions are used when the verb indicates possession or a relationship between two things.

Example 1: "gedenken" (to commemorate)

• der (of)
• wegen (because of)
• statt (instead of)

Here are some examples:

German	Pronunciation	English
Wir gedenken der Opfer.	[vɪʁ ɡəˈdɛŋkən deːɐ̯ ˈʔɔpfɐ]	We commemorate the victims.
Ich kann nicht kommen, wegen der Arbeit.	[ɪç kʰan nɪçt ˈkʰɔmən ˈveːɡən deːɐ̯ ˈʔaʁbaɪ̯t]	I can't come because of work.
Statt Fleisch essen wir Gemüse.	[ʃtat flaɪ̯ʃ ˈɛsən vɪʁ ɡəˈmyːzə]	Instead of meat, we eat vegetables.

Example 2: "bedürfen" (to require)

• keines (none)
• vieler (many)
• weniger (less)

Here are some examples:

German	Pronunciation	English
Das Projekt bedarf keines weiteren Aufwands.	[das ˈpʁɔjɛkt bəˈdaʁf ˈkaɪ̯nəs ˈvaɪ̯təʁən ˈʔaʊ̯f.vant͡s]	The project doesn't require any further effort.
Sie bedarf vieler Erklärungen.	[ziː bəˈdaʁf ˈfiːlɐ ˌʔɛʁˈklɛːʁʊŋən]	She requires many explanations.
Es bedarf weniger Zeit.	[ɛs bəˈdaʁf ˈveːnɪɡɐ t͡saɪ̯t]	It requires less time.

Conclusion

In this lesson, we have explored the usage of prepositions with common verbs and expressions in German. Prepositions are essential for expressing relationships between different elements in a sentence. By understanding how prepositions work and which case they require, you will be able to construct more accurate sentences in German. Make sure to practice using prepositions with verbs and expressions to reinforce your understanding. Keep up the good work, and continue to expand your knowledge of German grammar and vocabulary!

Table of Contents - German Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Basic Sentence Structures

• Subject and Verb
• Noun and Gender

  ---

Greetings and Introduction

• Greetings and Goodbyes
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Definite and Indefinite Articles

• Gender and Articles
• Plural Forms
• Cases: Nominative and Accusative

  ---

Numbers, Dates and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Days of the Week and Months
• Telling Time

  ---

Verbs and Conjugation

• Verb Forms
• Present Tense
• Separable Verbs

  ---

Family and Friends

• Family Members
• Talking About Your Friends

  ---

Prepositions

• Using Prepositions
• Two-Way Prepositions

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Food and Drinks

• Food and Meals
• Drinks and Beverages

  ---

Germany and German-Speaking Countries

• Geography and Landmarks
• Cuisine and Traditions

  ---

Pronouns and Possessives

• Personal Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Booking a Trip
• Public Transportation

  ---

Modal Verbs

• Expressing Abilities
• Talking About Obligations

  ---

Shopping and Clothes

• Shopping for Clothes
• Buying Groceries

  ---

Music and Entertainment

• Popular Musicians and Genres
• Movies, TV and Literature

  ---

Adjectives

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Comparative and Superlative Forms

  ---

Health and Body

• Talking About Health
• Body Parts

  ---

Time and Temporal Prepositions

• Using Time Expressions
• Temporal Prepositions

Sources

• German Prepositions - The Ultimate Guide (with Charts)
• All You Need to Know about German Prepositions
• The Ultimate Guide to Knitting Up German Sentences with ...

Other Lessons

• Past Tense
• Prepositions
• Pronouns in German
• Give your Opinion
• Simple negative sentences
• Conditional Mood
• Descriptive Adjectives
• Plurals
• How to Use Have
• Cases

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