Language/German/Grammar/Two-Way-Prepositions

German Grammar → Prepositions → Two-Way Prepositions

As a German language teacher for over 20 years, I know that prepositions are one of the most challenging aspects of German grammar for English speakers. Prepositions can be used in different ways, depending on their context in a sentence. In this lesson, we will focus on the concept of two-way prepositions and how to use them correctly in German sentences.

Two-Way Prepositions

Two-way prepositions are prepositions that can be used with either the accusative or dative case, depending on the context. The nine most commonly used two-way prepositions in German are:

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

Using the correct case for two-way prepositions can be challenging, but there are some rules that can help:

Accusative or Dative?

To determine whether to use the accusative or dative case with a two-way preposition, you need to ask yourself two questions:

1. Is there movement involved? 2. If so, is the movement directed towards or away from the noun?

If there is no movement involved, then the preposition is followed by the dative case. If there is movement involved, then you need to determine if the movement is directed towards or away from the noun. If the movement is towards the noun, then the preposition is followed by the accusative case. If the movement is away from the noun, then the preposition is followed by the dative case.

Here are some examples to see this in practice:

• Die Katze liegt **auf dem** Tisch. (The cat is lying **on the** table.) - dative
• Ich lege das Buch **auf den** Tisch. (I put the book **on the** table.) - accusative
• Er geht **in das** Haus. (He goes **into the** house.) - accusative
• Sie ist **in dem** Haus. (She is **in the** house.) - dative

Common Expressions with Two-Way Prepositions

There are many expressions in German that use two-way prepositions. Take a look at the following table for some common expressions and their translations:

German	Pronunciation	English
sich verlieben **in**	zikh fer-lye-ben in	to fall in love **with**
sich freuen **über**	zikh froy-en ub-er	to be happy **about**
sprechen **über**	shpre-khen ub-er	to talk **about**
warten **auf**	var-ten owf	to wait **for**
denken **an**	den-ken ann	to think **of**
nachdenken **über**	naHk-den-ken ub-er	to think carefully **about**

Conclusion

Two-way prepositions can be difficult, but with practice and the understanding of the rules, you can master them! Remember to ask yourself if there is movement involved and whether that movement is directed towards or away from the noun in question. Use the above expressions and start practicing your grammar skills!

Sources

• German Two-Way Prepositions: Your Essential Guide
• Accusative or Dative - How German Two Way Prepositions Work
• How to Use Dual Prepositions in German

Table of Contents - German Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Basic Sentence Structures

• Subject and Verb
• Noun and Gender

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Greetings and Introduction

• Greetings and Goodbyes
• Introducing Yourself

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Definite and Indefinite Articles

• Gender and Articles
• Plural Forms
• Cases: Nominative and Accusative

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Numbers, Dates and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Days of the Week and Months
• Telling Time

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Verbs and Conjugation

• Verb Forms
• Present Tense
• Separable Verbs

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Family and Friends

• Family Members
• Talking About Your Friends

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Prepositions

• Using Prepositions
• Two-Way Prepositions

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Food and Drinks

• Food and Meals
• Drinks and Beverages

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Germany and German-Speaking Countries

• Geography and Landmarks
• Cuisine and Traditions

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Pronouns and Possessives

• Personal Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns

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Travel and Transportation

• Booking a Trip
• Public Transportation

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Modal Verbs

• Expressing Abilities
• Talking About Obligations

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Shopping and Clothes

• Shopping for Clothes
• Buying Groceries

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Music and Entertainment

• Popular Musicians and Genres
• Movies, TV and Literature

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Adjectives

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Comparative and Superlative Forms

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Health and Body

• Talking About Health
• Body Parts

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Time and Temporal Prepositions

• Using Time Expressions
• Temporal Prepositions

Related Lessons

• Using Time Expressions
• Subject and Verb
• Prepositions
• Present Tense
• Possessive Case in German
• 0 to A1 Course
• Declension
• Simple negative sentences
• Comparative and Superlative Forms
• Noun and Gender