Dative & Accusative Prepositions
Two-way prepositions (Wechselpräpositionen) can take either dative or accusative case, depending on the meaning.
The key is understanding whether there's movement (accusative) or location (dative).
This is one of the most important concepts in German grammar and essential for correct usage.
Explanation
Use accusative when there's movement or direction (answering 'where to?' - wohin?).
Use dative when there's location or position (answering 'where?' - wo?).
Common two-way prepositions: in (in/into), an (on/at), auf (on/onto), über (over/above), unter (under), vor (in front of), hinter (behind), neben (next to), zwischen (between).
Verbs of movement (gehen, fahren, legen, stellen) usually require accusative. Verbs of location (sein, stehen, liegen, hängen) usually require dative.
Two-Way Prepositions - Movement vs Location
| Preposition | Accusative (Movement) | Dative (Location) | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| in | in das Haus (into) | in dem Haus (in) | Ich gehe in das Haus / Ich bin in dem Haus |
| an | an die Wand (onto) | an der Wand (on) | Ich hänge an die Wand / Es hängt an der Wand |
| auf | auf den Tisch (onto) | auf dem Tisch (on) | Ich lege auf den Tisch / Es liegt auf dem Tisch |
| über | über die Brücke (over) | über der Brücke (above) | Ich gehe über die Brücke / Es ist über der Brücke |
| unter | unter den Tisch (under) | unter dem Tisch (under) | Ich gehe unter den Tisch / Es ist unter dem Tisch |
More Two-Way Prepositions
Additional two-way prepositions follow the same pattern: accusative for movement, dative for location.
| Preposition | Accusative (Movement) | Dative (Location) | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| vor | vor das Haus (in front of) | vor dem Haus (in front of) | Ich gehe vor das Haus / Es steht vor dem Haus |
| hinter | hinter das Haus (behind) | hinter dem Haus (behind) | Ich gehe hinter das Haus / Es steht hinter dem Haus |
| neben | neben das Haus (next to) | neben dem Haus (next to) | Ich gehe neben das Haus / Es steht neben dem Haus |
| zwischen | zwischen die Häuser (between) | zwischen den Häusern (between) | Ich gehe zwischen die Häuser / Es steht zwischen den Häusern |
Examples
Ich gehe in das Haus. (movement - accusative)
I go into the house.
Ich bin in dem Haus. (location - dative)
I am in the house.
Ich hänge das Bild an die Wand. (movement - accusative)
I hang the picture on the wall.
Das Bild hängt an der Wand. (location - dative)
The picture hangs on the wall.
Ich lege das Buch auf den Tisch. (movement - accusative)
I put the book on the table.
Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch. (location - dative)
The book lies on the table.
Common Mistakes
Ich gehe in der Haus
Ich gehe in das Haus
Movement (going into) requires accusative 'das', not dative 'der'.
Ich bin in das Haus
Ich bin in dem Haus
Location (being in) requires dative 'dem', not accusative 'das'.
Ich lege auf der Tisch
Ich lege auf den Tisch
Movement (putting onto) requires accusative 'den', not dative 'der'.
Practice Exercises
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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.