German Prepositions
Preposition (Präposition)
Preposition are known in German as Präposition [prɛpoziˈtsɪoːn]. Prepositions are functional words that can be used to express the way in which nouns, pronouns and other elements are related in a sentence. The prepositions that can take three cases, such as accusative, dative and genitive.
Accusative Prepositions
The preposition takes the accusative case as follows:
| Preposition | Meaning |
|---|---|
| durch | through, by |
| ohne | without |
| um | around, at, about |
| gegen | against |
| für | for |
| bis | until |
Dative Prepositions
The following shows that the preposition takes the dative case:
| Preposition | Meaning |
|---|---|
| bei | at, near |
| aus | from, out of |
| mit | with |
| von | of, from, by |
| nach | after, to |
| seit | since, for |
| zu | to, at |
Two-way prepositions (Accusative or Dative)
The prepositions that take both the accusative and the dative case (two-way prepositions) are as follows:
| Preposition | Meaning |
|---|---|
| an | at, to, on |
| auf | on, onto |
| hinter | behind |
| in | in, into |
| neben | near |
| über | over, about |
| unter | under, below |
| vor | before, ago, in front of |
| zwischen | between |
Genitive Prepositions
The following shows that the preposition takes the genitive case:
| Preposition | Meaning |
|---|---|
| wegen | because of |
| während | during |
| innerhalb | within |
| trotz | in spite of |
| anstatt | instead of |
| innerhalb | within |
| außerhalb | outside |
Prepositions in the Contracted forms
In the contracted forms, the preposition and the definite article can be combined to form a single word.
| Preposition | Meaning |
|---|---|
| an das or ans | to the |
| an dem or am | at the |
| in das or ins | into the |
| in dem or im | in the |
| auf das or aufs | on the |
| bei dem or beim | at the |
| für das or fürs | for the |
| von dem or vom | from, of the |
| um das or ums | around the |
| zu dem or zum | to the |
| zu der or zur | to the |
