Prepositions with the accusative or dative (AQA GCSE German): Revision Notes
Prepositions with the accusative or dative
Understanding dual case prepositions
In German, certain prepositions are quite flexible - they can work with either the accusative case or the dative case. The key to using them correctly lies in understanding whether there's movement involved in the action or not. When you're describing movement towards a destination, you'll use the accusative case. When you're describing a static position or location where something simply exists, you'll use the dative case.
The Golden Rule for Dual Case Prepositions:
Movement = Accusative (answering "where to?")
Static Position = Dative (answering "where?")
This fundamental distinction determines which case to use with these flexible prepositions.
The nine dual case prepositions
Here are the prepositions that can take either case, along with their English meanings:
| German | English meaning |
|---|---|
| an | on (vertically), at |
| auf | on (horizontally) |
| hinter | behind |
| in | in |
| neben | next to |
| über | over/above |
| unter | under/below |
| vor | in front of/before |
| zwischen | between |
These nine prepositions are sometimes called Wechselpräpositionen (changing prepositions) because they "change" the case they require depending on whether movement or static position is involved.
Movement versus static position
When to use accusative (movement)
Use the accusative case when describing movement towards a destination or direction. Think of it as answering "where to?"
Worked Examples: Movement (Accusative)
-
Ich gehe in das Klassenzimmer. (I go into the classroom)
- Movement: going INTO the classroom
- Accusative: das Klassenzimmer
-
Die Katze läuft hinter die Tür. (The cat runs behind the door)
- Movement: running TO BEHIND the door
- Accusative: die Tür
When to use dative (static position)
Use the dative case when describing where something is located or positioned, without any movement involved. Think of it as answering "where?"
Worked Examples: Static Position (Dative)
-
Ich bin in dem Klassenzimmer. (I am in the classroom)
- Static: being IN the classroom (no movement)
- Dative: dem Klassenzimmer
-
Die Katze schläft hinter der Tür. (The cat is sleeping behind the door)
- Static: sleeping BEHIND the door (no movement)
- Dative: der Tür
Common contractions
German often shortens certain preposition and article combinations. These contractions are very common in everyday speech and writing:
Standard Contractions:
- ins (in das) - into the
- im (in dem) - in the
- am (an dem) - on the/at the
Example: Die Kinder laufen ins Klassenzimmer. (The children run into the classroom)
Notice how "ins" shows movement (accusative), while "im" shows static position (dative).
Useful expressions with accusative (movement)
These phrases show the prepositions being used with accusative case because they involve movement or direction:
Movement Expressions (Accusative)
- Wir fahren im Sommer ins Ausland. (We're going abroad in the summer)
- Gehst du heute Abend ins Kino? (Are you going to the cinema tonight?)
- Meine Freundin und ich gehen in die Stadt. (My friend and I are going into town)
- Ich gehe früh in die Schule. (I go to school early)
All these examples involve movement towards a destination.
Useful expressions with dative (static position)
These phrases use the dative case because they describe locations or static positions:
Static Position Expressions (Dative)
- Er wohnt im Ausland. (He lives abroad)
- Unser Dorf liegt auf dem Land. (Our village is in the countryside)
- Wohnst du in den Bergen? (Do you live in the mountains?)
- Ich warte vor dem Kino auf dich. (I'll wait for you in front of the cinema)
- Ich bin bis 14:00 Uhr in der Schule. (I'm at school until 2 pm)
All these examples describe where something IS, not where it's GOING.
Grammar tip: Da- and dar- prefixes
When you want to say "in it", "on it", or "in front of it" without using a specific noun, you can add the prefixes da- or dar- to prepositions.
Using Da- and Dar- Prefixes:
Use dar- when the preposition begins with a vowel:
- darin (in it)
- darauf (on it)
- dahinter (behind it)
This creates more natural-sounding German than repeating specific nouns.
Translation practice
Translation Practice
German to English:
- Das Kino ist zwischen dem Park und der Hauptstraße.
- Der Hund läuft unter den Tisch.
English to German: 3. There are many books on the table. 4. We're driving to the countryside at the weekend.
Answers:
- The cinema is between the park and the main street.
- The dog runs under the table.
- Es gibt viele Bücher auf dem Tisch.
- Wir fahren am Wochenende auf das Land.
Key Points to Remember:
- Movement = Accusative: When describing movement towards something, use accusative case
- Static = Dative: When describing a fixed location or position, use dative case
- Nine key prepositions: an, auf, hinter, in, neben, über, unter, vor, zwischen can all take either case
- Contractions are common: ins, im, and am are frequently used shortened forms
- Ask yourself "where to?" or "where?": This helps determine which case to use
- Practice makes perfect: The more you use these prepositions, the more natural the case selection becomes