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The alternating prepositions
Here you can find everything you need to know about alternating prepositions
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What alternating prepositions are there?
There are 9 alternating prepositions:
in, an, unter, über, auf, vor, hinter, neben, zwischen
Alternating prepositions - what does that mean?
Most prepositions always require the same case.
You can see some of them in the overview:
Examples
'bis' always comes with the accusative case
-
Ich bleibe bis nächsten Dienstag zu Hause.
'bei' is always with dative case
-
Bei dem Wetter gehe ich nicht raus!
But there are Prepositions that can change their case:
Sometimes they are in the dative and sometimes in the accusative case.
That is why these prepositions are called alternating prepositions.
When do I use alternating prepositions with
the accusative and when with the dative?
Alternating prepositions
-
require the accusative when indicating motion in one direction.
Then they answer the question " where to = wohin ...?"
Typical verbs of movement
walk, run, run, drive, fly, swim, ...
-
They require the dative when describing a position.
then answer the question: " where = wo ....?"
Typical verbs indicating a position :
stehen (stand), liegen (lie), sitzen (sit), sein/ sich befinden (be) ...
This is how you remember the right cases
the CharLingua tip
Articles in the accusative and dative
Do you know all the articles by heart? Here you can find them at a glance:
The use of alternating prepositions
Do you want to describe a movement? Or the change of a condition? Then you ask:
WOHIN geht der Mann / fliegt der Ball / rennt der Hund / ...
Or do you want to describe a position? THen you ask:
WO steht der Mann / liegt der Ball / sitzt der Hund / ....
Wohin? = Where to? with accusative
Wo? = Where? with dative
So:
die Kiste (the box) (= feminine)
-
when moving in one direction, the article is in the accusative = die Kiste
Der Ball rollt/ fliegt/ fällt/ springt/ ... in die Kiste. (In welche Richtung rollt/ ... der Ball?)
-
When describing a position, the article is in the dative = der Kiste
('der' is not masculine here!)
Der Ball ist/ liegt in der Kiste. (Wo ist der Ball?)
der Tisch (the table) (= masculine)
-
when moving in one direction, the article is in the accusative = den Tisch
Der Ball rollt/ fliegt/ fällt/ ... auf den Tisch. (In welche Richtung rollt/ ... der Ball?)
-
in a description of the postion, the article is in the dative = dem Tisch
Der Ball ist/ liegt auf dem Tisch. (Wo ist der Ball?)
das Sofa (the sofa) (= neutral)
-
when moving in one direction, the article is in the accusative = das Sofa
Der Ball rollt/ fliegt/ fällt/ springt/ ... in die Kiste. (In welche Richtung rollt/ ... der Ball?)
-
when describing a position, the article is in the dative = dem Sofa
Der Ball ist/ liegt auf dem Sofa. (Wo ist der Ball?)
!!! It's not just about the movement ...
There must be a movement from A to B, i.e. with a certan destintion.
Example:
Peter läuft im Kreis herum. (Peter runs around in circles).
There is no destination here!
So you ask: Where is Peter running around?
Special Forms
im = in dem - Wir gehen im Park spazieren.
ins = in das - Es ist spät. Wir gehen ins Bett.
am = an dem - Du sitzt am Strand.
ans = ans - im Sommer fahren wir ans Meer.
The verbs setzen- sitzen, stellen - stehen, legen - liegen
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There is a movement
sich setzen (to sit down)
Max setzt sich auf das Sofa
(sich) stellen
Mia stellt sich ans Fenster.
(sich) legen
Tim legt sich ins Bett
hängen
Tom hängt das Bild an die Wand.
The verbs of movement are regular
sich setzen - hat sich gesetzt
stellen - hat gestellt
legen - hat gelegt
hängen - hat gehängt
There is no movement
sitzen
Max sitzt auf dem Sofa.
stehen
Mia steht am Fenster.
liegen
Tim liegt im Bett
hängen
Das Bild hängt an der Wand.
The verbs without movement are irregular
saß - hat gesessen
steht - stand
liegen - lag
hängen - hing
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