{"id":2773520,"date":"2020-12-16T04:18:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-16T04:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smartergerman.com\/german-grammar-two-way-prepositions\/"},"modified":"2024-04-23T15:24:40","modified_gmt":"2024-04-23T15:24:40","slug":"german-grammar-two-way-prepositions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smartergerman.com\/blog\/german-grammar-two-way-prepositions\/","title":{"rendered":"A Grammar Challenge: German Two-Way Prepositions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A real German grammar challenge are the Wechselpr\u00e4positionen: <\/em><\/strong>two way prepositions, or as we prefer to call them two-case prepositions. These typically cause a lot of confusion. But once you understand how they work, they are actually very logical and easy to handle. In this article you can also see that we have recruited the help of a couple of flamingos to help you memorize the two-case prepositions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So What are Two-Case, or Two-Way Prepositions?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We all know this German grammar challenge can be a pain in the a**, and two-case prepositions seemingly make this more difficult. Two way or two-case prepositions are a group of prepositions (i.e. tiny little words that make no sense and are therefore hard to memorize) that cause a change in the articles (den, dem etc.) and adjectives (sch\u00f6n, gut, gro\u00df etc.) that follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That change is important and is called Akkusativ or Dativ. Akkusativ and Dativ are so called cases. In German we have 4 of those cases, the other two are Nominativ (which is the basis and very straightforward) and the Genitiv (which is irrelevant, as it\u2019s hardly used).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the name two-case prepositions might give away already, these tiny little words can be followed by either of the two cases above: the accusative case or the dative case. This is also why they are often called two-way prepositions. They are also tricky because quite often you have to use a different article for the same prepositions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, one doesn\u2019t really know when to pick which case in a certain prepositional phrase. Lucky enough, Hans Deutschendorf, the inventor of the two-case prepositions, has invented a rule for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A | If it moves from A to B you use the accusative case<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

B | If it is a static position (in the physical world) you use the dative case<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Wechselpr\u00e4positionen<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Some German Two-Way Prepositions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Here are some German two-way prepositions with an English translation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

an<\/strong> (on [vertical surface])
auf<\/strong> (on top of [horizontal surface])
hinter <\/strong>(behind)
in<\/strong> (in)
neben <\/strong>(next to )
entlang<\/strong> (along)
\u00fcber<\/strong> (above)
unter <\/strong> (under)
vor <\/strong>(in front of)
zwischen<\/strong> (between)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Die<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Is the Preposition Dative or Accusative? How to Decide<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When grappling with dual prepositions in the German language, discerning whether to use the accusative or dative case hinges on the type of question they answer. If the preposition addresses ‘where to?’ (wohin?) or ‘what about?’ (wor\u00fcber?), it takes the accusative case. On the other hand, when responding to the question ‘where’ (wo?), it requires the dative case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In essence, accusative prepositions in German typically denote an action or movement toward another location. Conversely, dative prepositions signify a static location or something not undergoing a change in position. For instance, consider the English phrases ‘he jumps into the water’ and ‘he is swimming in the water.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first one answers a ‘where to’ question, indicating movement from one place to another. In German, this is expressed as ‘in das Wasser’ or ‘ins Wasser,’ utilizing the accusative case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second phrase represents a ‘where’ scenario, indicating a static location. In German, it is conveyed as ‘in dem Wasser’ or ‘im Wasser,’ using the dative case. Here, the individual remains within the body of water without moving in and out of that particular location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

English vs German Prepositions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To convey these distinct situations, English uses different prepositions (‘in’ or ‘into’), while German uses a single preposition\u2014’in’\u2014accompanied by either the accusative case (for motion) or the dative case (for location). Speakers of English who want to learn German should keep this difference between the two languages in mind and try to decide which the correct case will depending on the different meanings they want to convey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An Example of Two-Way Prepositions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A | Ich fliege in die T\u00fcrkei. \u2013 die T\u00fcrkei is Akkusativ as it follows \u201cin\u201d which is a two-case preposition and as flying means that one is moving from A (Berlin) to B (T\u00fcrkei).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

B | Ich bin in der T\u00fcrkei. \u2013 der T\u00fcrkei is Dativ as it also follows \u201cin\u201d but now I (=ich) am (=bin) in Turkey already. No more movement is necessary. I\u2019ll just lie down and smoke my shisha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Makes sense? So, if the preposition describes a location or a state of being, it takes the dative case. Here is another example: \u201dDas Bild h\u00e4ngt an der<\/strong> Wand” (The picture is hanging on the wall).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if the preposition describes directed movement (that is, movement towards a destination or a location), it takes the accusative case. For example, “Ich h\u00e4nge das Bild an<\/strong> die<\/strong> Wand” (I’m hanging the picture on the wall). Another pair of examples would be, “Er l\u00e4uft in dem Park” (having a walk inside the park, which implies the movement remains within the same location), while “Er l\u00e4uft in den Park hinein” specifies that the person is not currently in the park but is running into it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also important to note examples where the meaning implies no literal movement is being described, but rather a change in state:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Die Raupe hat sich <\/em>in einen<\/em><\/strong> Schmetterling verwandelt. <\/em>(The caterpillar transformed into a butterfly.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All this is covered in my Magnificent German Bundle<\/a> which includes all language levels leading from A1 to C1. You can learn step by step and make yourself gradually familiar with the concept. That\u2019s important so that you don\u2019t get overwhelmed or confused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example Sentences<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here’s a breakdown of various dual prepositions in German, along with sample sentences showcasing both the dative and accusative cases:<\/p>\n\n\n\n