B1Prepositions

German Two-Way Prepositions (Wechselpräpositionen)

These prepositions take accusative for movement/direction and dative for location/position: an, auf, hinter, in, neben, über, unter, vor, zwischen.

Key Rules

  • 1Accusative = movement (Wohin? - Where to?)
  • 2Dative = location (Wo? - Where?)
  • 3in + accusative = into; in + dative = in
  • 4auf + accusative = onto; auf + dative = on

Examples

Ich gehe in die Schule.

I go to school. (movement)

💡 Movement into = accusative (die Schule).

Ich bin in der Schule.

I am at school. (location)

💡 Static location = dative (der Schule).

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Ich lege das Buch auf dem Tisch.→✓ Ich lege das Buch auf den Tisch.

'Legen' implies movement, so use accusative.

Related Grammar Topics

Cases
German Accusative Case (Akkusativ)
A1
Cases
German Dative Case (Dativ)
A2
Prepositions
German Accusative Prepositions
A1
Prepositions
German Dative Prepositions
A2

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