German Prepositions with Examples – Complete Beginner’s Guide
Understanding German prepositions is essential for building accurate and natural sentences. In this complete guide, we’ll break down all types of prepositions with real-life examples, tables, pronunciation help, and practice tips.
What Are Prepositions in German?
Prepositions are small words used before nouns or pronouns to show relationships in time, place, direction, cause, or manner. In German, they affect the case of the noun that follows them (accusative, dative, or genitive).
All Types of German Prepositions: Accusative, Dative, and Genitive
- Accusative Prepositions: Always followed by accusative case.
- Dative Prepositions: Always followed by dative case.
- Genitive Prepositions: Followed by genitive case (less common in spoken German).
- Two-way Prepositions: Can take either accusative or dative depending on motion or location.
Accusative Prepositions in German (with Examples)
| Preposition | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| durch | through | Ich gehe durch den Park. (I walk through the park.) |
| für | for | Das Geschenk ist für dich. (The gift is for you.) |
| gegen | against | Wir kämpfen gegen die Zeit. (We fight against time.) |
| ohne | without | Ich trinke Kaffee ohne Zucker. (I drink coffee without sugar.) |
| um | around | Wir sitzen um den Tisch. (We sit around the table.) |
Dative Prepositions in German (with Sample Sentences)
| Preposition | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| aus | out of, from | Er kommt aus dem Haus. (He comes out of the house.) |
| bei | at, near, with | Ich bin bei meiner Freundin. (I am at my friend’s place.) |
| mit | with | Ich fahre mit dem Auto. (I travel by car.) |
| nach | after, to | Wir fahren nach Berlin. (We’re going to Berlin.) |
| seit | since, for | Ich lerne Deutsch seit einem Jahr. (I’ve been learning German for a year.) |
| von | from, of | Das Geschenk ist von ihm. (The gift is from him.) |
| zu | to | Ich gehe zu dem Arzt. (I go to the doctor.) |
Two-Way (Wechselpräpositionen) Prepositions Explained with Examples
These prepositions take accusative when indicating movement and dative when showing location.
| Preposition | Meaning | Accusative Example | Dative Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| in | in, into | Ich gehe in die Schule. (I go into the school.) | Ich bin in der Schule. (I am in the school.) |
| auf | on, onto | Ich lege das Buch auf den Tisch. (I put the book onto the table.) | Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch. (The book lies on the table.) |
| an | on (vertical), at | Ich hänge das Bild an die Wand. (I hang the picture on the wall.) | Das Bild hängt an der Wand. (The picture hangs on the wall.) |
Common Genitive Prepositions in German
- während – during
- trotz – despite
- wegen – because of
- anstatt – instead of
Example: Wegen des Wetters bleiben wir zu Hause. (Because of the weather, we’re staying home.)
How to Use German Prepositions with Articles (am, im, beim…)
In German, prepositions often combine with definite articles. Here are some common contractions:
- an + dem = am (e.g. am Morgen – in the morning)
- in + dem = im (e.g. im Kino – in the cinema)
- bei + dem = beim (e.g. beim Arzt – at the doctor’s)
German Prepositions of Place and Direction (in, auf, nach…)
- nach Hause – going home
- in die Stadt – into the city
- auf den Berg – onto the mountain
Direction implies movement (use accusative), place implies location (use dative).
German Prepositions of Time (seit, vor, bis…)
- seit Montag – since Monday
- vor einer Woche – a week ago
- bis morgen – until tomorrow
List of the Most Common German Prepositions (with English Meaning)
- mit – with
- für – for
- ohne – without
- durch – through
- bei – at/near/with
Practice Sentences: Using German Prepositions in Real Contexts
1. Ich spreche mit meinem Lehrer. (I speak with my teacher.)
2. Wir gehen zu dem Museum. (We’re going to the museum.)
3. Das Buch ist auf dem Tisch. (The book is on the table.)
Common Mistakes Learners Make with German Prepositions
- Using the wrong case after a preposition.
- Forgetting contractions (e.g., writing “in dem” instead of “im”).
- Confusing two-way prepositions and their required case.
Tips and Tricks to Learn German Prepositions Easily
- Group prepositions by case and memorize them with example sentences.
- Use flashcards with context-based examples.
- Repeat real dialogues and short stories.
Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of German Prepositions
1. Ich gehe _____ Schule. (in / im)
2. Das Geschenk ist _____ dich. (für / mit)
3. Ich bin _____ dem Arzt. (bei / zu)
Conclusion: Master German Prepositions with Confidence
By practicing regularly and focusing on context, you can master German prepositions easily. Use this guide as your reference and keep building your skills through real examples and repetition.