A2 - Elementary
Prepositions with Accusative/Dative
Wechselpräpositionen
Some prepositions change case based on meaning:
ACCUSATIVE (Wohin? - motion/direction):
Ich gehe in den Park.
DATIVE (Wo? - location/position):
Ich bin im Park.
Two-way prepositions: an, auf, hinter, in, neben, über, unter, vor, zwischen
ACCUSATIVE (Wohin? - motion/direction):
Ich gehe in den Park.
DATIVE (Wo? - location/position):
Ich bin im Park.
Two-way prepositions: an, auf, hinter, in, neben, über, unter, vor, zwischen
Examples
Ich lege das Buch auf den Tisch.
I put the book on the table. (Acc - motion)
Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch.
The book is on the table. (Dat - location)
Er geht in die Schule.
He goes to school. (Acc)
Er ist in der Schule.
He is at school. (Dat)
Tip:
Ask: Is there movement INTO/ONTO something? → Accusative. Is it just a position/location? → Dative.
Ask: Is there movement INTO/ONTO something? → Accusative. Is it just a position/location? → Dative.