Dual Case Prepositions in German

This section explains Dual Case Prepositions in German. In German, there are some prepositions that can take either the accusative or the dative case, depending on the context. These are called dual case prepositions because they can be used with both cases.

When to Use Accusative vs Dative:

• Accusative is used when the preposition indicates motion or direction (movement to a place).
• Dative is used when the preposition indicates location or position (something is stationary or remains in a place).

List of Common Dual Case Prepositions:

Accusative or Dative?

• Accusative: Use the accusative when the action involves motion or direction. The object is being moved to a different place.
• Dative: Use the dative when the action involves location or position. The object is stationary or situated in one place.

Examples:

1. an (at, on)
   • Accusative (motion): Ich gehe an den Tisch.
     (I am going to the table.)
     • den is used because Tisch (table) is masculine and the action involves movement.
   • Dative (location): Ich bin an dem Tisch.
     (I am at the table.)
     • dem is used because Tisch (table) is masculine and the action describes a stationary position.
2. auf (on, onto)
   • Accusative (motion): Sie legt das Buch auf den Tisch.
     (She is placing the book onto the table.)
     • den is used because Tisch (table) is masculine and there’s movement.
   • Dative (location): Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch.
     (The book is on the table.)
     • dem is used because Tisch (table) is masculine and the book is in a stationary position.
3. hinter (behind)
   • Accusative (motion): Er geht hinter das Haus.
     (He is going behind the house.)
     • das is used because Haus (house) is neuter, and there’s movement.
   • Dative (location): Er ist hinter dem Haus.
     (He is behind the house.)
     • dem is used because Haus (house) is neuter, and he is in a stationary position.
4. in (in, into)
   • Accusative (motion): Ich gehe in das Zimmer.
     (I am going into the room.)
     • das is used because Zimmer (room) is neuter and the action is moving into the room.
   • Dative (location): Ich bin in dem Zimmer.
     (I am in the room.)
     • dem is used because Zimmer (room) is neuter, and the action describes being inside the room.
5. neben (next to, beside)
   • Accusative (motion): Stell das Glas neben den Teller.
     (Put the glass next to the plate.)
     • den is used because Teller (plate) is masculine and the glass is being placed next to it (motion).
   • Dative (location): Das Glas steht neben dem Teller.
     (The glass is standing next to the plate.)
     • dem is used because Teller (plate) is masculine and the glass is stationary.

Word Order with Dual Case Prepositions

• Accusative prepositions come first when expressing direction or movement.
  Example: Ich gehe in die Schule. (I am going to the school.)
• Dative prepositions come first when expressing location.
  Example: Ich bin in der Schule. (I am in the school.)

Note: If the sentence involves both a time phrase and a dual preposition, the time phrase usually comes before the preposition.

Foundation Tier Example Sentences:

1. Ich gehe in das Zimmer.
   (I am going into the room.)
   • Accusative because the action is moving into the room.
2. Er steht hinter dem Haus.
   (He is standing behind the house.)
   • Dative because the action describes a position (standing).
3. Sie legt das Buch auf den Tisch.
   (She is placing the book on the table.)
   • Accusative because the action involves movement.
4. Wir sind in der Schule.
   (We are in the school.)
   • Dative because the action describes being in a location.

Higher Tier Example Sentences:

1. Ich fahre in den Park.
   (I am driving into the park.)
   • Accusative because the action involves movement.
2. Er sitzt neben seiner Mutter.
   (He is sitting next to his mother.)
   • Dative because the action describes a stationary position.
3. Die Kinder spielen hinter dem Haus.
   (The children are playing behind the house.)
   • Dative because the action describes being behind the house (location).
4. Sie stellt die Tasche auf den Stuhl.
   (She is putting the bag onto the chair.)
   • Accusative because the action involves placing something on the chair (movement).
5. Wir gehen zu den Nachbarn, aber sie sind nicht zu Hause.
   (We are going to the neighbours, but they are not at home.)
   • Accusative because the action involves moving to the neighbours’ house.

Summary:

• Dual case prepositions take either the accusative or dative depending on whether there is motion (accusative) or location (dative).
• Accusative is used when something is moving to a place or position.
• Dative is used when something is located in a place.
• The definite articles change in the dative and accusative cases (e.g., der becomes den in the accusative for masculine nouns).

Key Vocabulary:

• at, on: an
• on, onto: auf
• behind: hinter
• in, into: in
• next to, beside: neben
• above, over: über
• under, beneath: unter
• in front of, before: vor
• between: zwischen