49 German Prepositions + Find out how to Use Them Appropriately

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Präpositionen (prepositions) are as vital in German as they’re in English. These little phrases are used to indicate how two or extra completely different phrases stand in relation to one another. For that reason, prepositions are additionally referred to as Verhältniswörter (relation phrases) in German.

A number of German prepositions might be translated instantly from English, however there are some finer particulars as to how and when to make use of every one that typically differs from English. You may practice your self to get a sense for these particulars with Rosetta Stone’s Dynamic Immersion Methodology. It lets you decide  up a brand new language the identical means you probably did whenever you had been a toddler as you might be surrounded by your goal language from the very starting.

Listing of an important German prepositions

Are you studying German and questioning “The place can prepositions go in German?” You could find out right here! We’ve compiled a listing of an important German pronouns for you, cut up up by the various kinds of prepositions and with instance sentences for every part. 

Word that each German preposition has one or two of 4 German instances (nominative, accusative, dative, genitive) related to it. Which means that the pronoun/article/noun following the preposition must be declinated (or have the endings change like der to des) into that case.

German Lokale Präpositionen (native prepositions)

Lokale Präpositionen are used to indicate the placement of a stationary noun or its vacation spot if the noun is transferring or performing. They make clear the questions of wo (the place) and wohin (to the place).

A number of native prepositions in German are related to each the dative and accusative instances. If the phrase after the preposition is in dative kind, it signifies that the query answered is wo (the place). If the phrase after it’s in its accusative declension, the query is wohin (to the place).

• Dative: Das Essen steht auf dem Tisch. = The meals is on the desk. 
• Accusative: Ich stelle das Essen auf den Tisch. = I’m placing the meals onto the desk. 

Utilizing nach, zu, and in

Word that each nach and zu can imply “to.” The distinction between them is that nach is used for locations and instructions, and zu is used whether it is adopted by a pronoun.

• Wir fahren zu seinen Eltern. = We’re driving to his dad and mom.
• Wir gehen zu einer Occasion. = We’re going to a celebration.  
• Die Katze schaut zu dem Vogel. = The cat is wanting at the fowl. 

The third instance above interprets to “at” as a substitute of “to” in English. That is an instance of how preposition use can fluctuate between English and German. However realizing the principles can assist you get a greater feeling of when to make use of which phrase. 

Nach additionally signifies actions in direction of a spot or path, just like the ending “-ward” in English.

• Wir fahren nach Berlin. = We’re driving to Berlin.
• Die Katze schaut nach oben. = The cat is wanting upwards.
• Die Vögel fliegen nach Süden. = The birds are flying southwards.

As you possibly can see, it doesn’t matter what sort of pronoun is used—any of the German pronouns require the usage of zu as a substitute of nach when speaking about locations and instructions. 

Nevertheless, in is used as a substitute of nach when the vacation spot is a spot with a pronoun, corresponding to the USA. There are some particular instances with nation names the place English and German differ. For instance the German identify for “Switzerland” is die Schweiz whereas “the Czech republic” is Tschechien. 

• Wir fliegen in die Vereinigten Staaten. = We’re flying into the USA.
• Das Boot fährt in die Karibik. = The boat goes into the caribbean.
• Er fährt in die Alpen. = He’s driving into the alps. 

German Temporale Präpositionen (temporal prepositions)

Temporale Präpositionen reply the questions of wann (when) and wie lange (how lengthy). They’re used for telling the time, indicating the beginning and finish of issues, and for telling occasions that occurred alongside others. Like in English, they’re among the many mostly used prepositions within the German language.

There are some notable variations between English and German temporal prepositions.

• Um is a particular temporal preposition. It’s solely used when naming a particular time.
  • Um 18 Uhr treffe ich meine Eltern. = At 6 p.m., I’m assembly my dad and mom.
• Vor is the German equal of “in the past.” You place it earlier than the time specification in German, not after.
  • Ich habe meinen Mann vor drei Jahren getroffen. = I met my husband three years in the past.
• Ab is the quick and direct strategy to say “from…on” or “beginning” in German.
  • Ab nächster Woche bin ich im Urlaub. = Beginning subsequent week I’ll be on trip. 
  • Ab dem Zeitpunkt bin ich immer Bus gefahren. = From that second on I at all times took the bus.

One main distinction right here is {that a} sentence with ab is written in current tense if it signifies an occasion sooner or later. 

German Modale Präpositionen (Modal prepositions) 

Modale Präpositionen inform you the wie (how.) They’re used to clarify processes and connections. 

There are some prepositions that differ from their English counterparts on this part. 

• Aus is a brief German preposition that you need to use to say what one thing is made out of.
  • Der Tisch ist aus Holz. = The desk is created from wooden.
• Bei describes the best way one thing is completed or if one thing else is completed throughout one other exercise.
  • Ich bin immer konzentriert bei der Arbeit. = I’m at all times concentrated whereas working. (Actually, I’m at all times concentrated by the work.)
• Nach can perform as a modal preposition that’s largely used with recipes and different protocols.
  • Ich backe diesen Kuchen nach dem Rezept meiner Großmutter. = I’m baking this cake in response to my grandma’s recipe. 

German Kausale Präpositionen (causal prepositions)

Kausale Präpositionen reply the query of wieso (why). Because the identify implies, they’re used to clarify causal relations between phrases. 

You may see that quite a lot of these prepositions mix a number of English phrases.

• Aufgrund and wegen each imply “due to.” They’re used interchangeably with wegen being the extra informal choice. Aufgrund can typically be heard within the information, for instance.
  • Er geht wegen des Regens nicht raus. = He’s not going exterior due to the rain. 
• Trotz means “regardless of,” however it is usually the basis of the phrase trotzdem. This phrase means “regardless of of that” when translated actually. It’s additionally a favourite amongst cussed youngsters as it may be used as a one-word reply to any argument.
  • Trotz des Regens geht er raus. = Regardless of the rain he’s going exterior. 
  • Er ist trotzdem rausgegangen. = He went exterior regardless of that./He nonetheless went exterior.
  • Trotzdem. = However nonetheless. 

• Mangels combines “as a consequence of a scarcity of” into one phrase. Whereas you may as well say wegen einem Mangel an in German—which suggests the identical factor—it is a helpful preposition to know.
  • Die Pflanzen sind mangels Wasser sehr trocken. = The crops are very dry as a consequence of a scarcity of water. 

Accusative prepositions within the German language

The accusative case is used for the direct object of a sentence. Accusative prepositions Together with native prepositions point out motion. 

The German articles that always observe accusative prepositions are:

• Er stellt das Buch in den Schrank. = He’s placing the e-book into the bookcase.