Accusative Prepositions
Accusative prepositions always require the accusative case, regardless of the context or meaning.
These prepositions are essential for expressing purpose, direction, and various relationships in German.
This lesson covers the most common accusative prepositions and how to use them correctly with articles and pronouns.
Explanation
Common accusative prepositions include: für (for), durch (through), gegen (against), ohne (without), um (around/at).
All accusative prepositions require accusative case articles: den (masculine), die (feminine/plural), das (neuter).
Accusative prepositions never change - they always take accusative, unlike two-way prepositions which can take accusative or dative.
When using pronouns with accusative prepositions, use accusative pronouns: mich, dich, ihn, sie, es, uns, euch, sie.
Common Accusative Prepositions
| Preposition | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| für | for | für den Mann | for the man |
| durch | through | durch den Park | through the park |
| gegen | against | gegen die Wand | against the wall |
| ohne | without | ohne das Auto | without the car |
| um | around/at | um die Ecke | around the corner |
Examples
Ich kaufe ein Geschenk für meine Mutter.
I buy a gift for my mother.
Wir gehen durch den Park.
We walk through the park.
Er läuft gegen die Wand.
He runs against the wall.
Ich fahre ohne das Auto.
I travel without the car.
Um acht Uhr beginnt der Film.
At eight o'clock the movie starts.
Das Haus steht um die Ecke.
The house is around the corner.
Common Mistakes
für der Mann
für den Mann
'Für' requires accusative, so masculine becomes 'den', not 'der'.
durch das Park
durch den Park
'Durch' requires accusative, so masculine becomes 'den', not 'das'.
ohne der Auto
ohne das Auto
'Ohne' requires accusative, so neuter stays 'das', not 'der'.
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with interactive exercises. Practice makes perfect!
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which article to use?
German articles (der, die, das) depend on the gender of the noun. While there are some patterns, many nouns must be memorized. Practice and exposure to German will help you learn them naturally.
What's the difference between definite and indefinite articles?
Definite articles (der, die, das) mean 'the' and refer to specific things. Indefinite articles (ein, eine) mean 'a/an' and refer to non-specific things. Both must match the noun's gender: use 'ein' for masculine/neuter and 'eine' for feminine.
Are there rules for determining noun gender?
While there are some helpful patterns (e.g., words ending in -ung are usually feminine), there are many exceptions. The best approach is to learn nouns with their articles from the beginning.
What happens if I use the wrong article?
While using the wrong article is a common mistake, native speakers will usually still understand you. However, using the correct article is important for sounding natural and fluent in German.