Language/German/Grammar/Two-Way-Prepositions

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German → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Two-Way Prepositions

Welcome to our lesson on two-way prepositions! Understanding prepositions is a crucial aspect of mastering the German language, especially for beginners. Two-way prepositions are a fascinating part of German grammar because they can indicate both location and direction, depending on the context. This duality can be a little tricky, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll find these prepositions to be incredibly useful in your everyday conversations.

In this lesson, we’ll cover:

• What two-way prepositions are

• The list of two-way prepositions

• How to use them with the accusative and dative cases

• A plethora of examples illustrating their usage

• Practice exercises to solidify your understanding

So, let’s dive in!

What are Two-Way Prepositions?

Two-way prepositions in German are unique because they can take either the accusative case (for movement towards something) or the dative case (for location at something). This flexibility is what makes them two-way!

Here are some common two-way prepositions:

• an (at, on)

• auf (on, upon)

• hinter (behind)

• in (in, into)

• neben (beside)

• ober (above)

• unter (under)

• vor (in front of)

• zwischen (between)

Understanding when to use which case is vital, and we'll discuss this in detail below.

The Accusative vs. Dative Cases

To grasp the use of two-way prepositions, it’s important to differentiate between the accusative and dative cases:

• Accusative: Used when indicating movement towards a place.

• Dative: Used when indicating a stationary position.

Here are the articles in both cases for reference:

• Nominative: der (masc.), die (fem.), das (neut.), die (plural)

• Accusative: den (masc.), die (fem.), das (neut.), die (plural)

• Dative: dem (masc.), der (fem.), dem (neut.), den (plural)

Using Two-Way Prepositions in Context

Let’s look at how these prepositions function in sentences. Below, we’ll illustrate their usage with examples.

German	Pronunciation	English
Ich gehe in das Haus.	ɪç ˈɡeːə ɪn das haʊs	I am going into the house.
Ich bin in dem Haus.	ɪç bɪn ɪn deːm haʊs	I am in the house.
Er legt das Buch auf den Tisch.	eːɐ leːkt das bʊx ʊf den tɪʃ	He is putting the book on the table.
Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch.	das bʊx liːkt ʊf deːm tɪʃ	The book is on the table.
Sie geht neben die Tür.	ziː ɡeːt ˈneːbən diː tyːr	She is going next to the door.
Sie ist neben der Tür.	ziː ɪst ˈneːbən deːr tyːr	She is next to the door.
Wir fahren unter die Brücke.	viːɐ ˈfaːʁən ˈʊntɐ diː ˈbʁʏkə	We are driving under the bridge.
Wir sind unter der Brücke.	viːɐ zɪnt ˈʊntɐ deːɐ ˈbʁʏkə	We are under the bridge.
Ich stelle die Lampe hinter das Sofa.	ɪç ˈʃtɛlə diː ˈlampə ˈhɪntɐ das ˈzoːfa	I am putting the lamp behind the sofa.
Die Lampe steht hinter dem Sofa.	diː ˈlampə ʃteːt ˈhɪntɐ deːm ˈzoːfa	The lamp is behind the sofa.
Er kommt vor das Haus.	eːɐ kɔmt fɔːʁ das haʊs	He is coming in front of the house.
Er steht vor dem Haus.	eːɐ ʃteːt fɔːʁ deːm haʊs	He is in front of the house.
Die Katze ist zwischen den Stühlen.	diː ˈkaʦə ɪst ˈtsvɪʃən deːn ˈʃtyːlən	The cat is between the chairs.
Ich stelle den Stuhl zwischen die Tische.	ɪç ˈʃtɛlə deːn ʃtyːl ˈtsvɪʃən diː ˈtɪʃə	I am putting the chair between the tables.

As you can see, the difference in case changes the meaning of the sentence from movement to a location.

Practice Exercises

Now that we have explored the theory and examples, it’s time for you to practice what you’ve learned! Below are exercises that will help you apply two-way prepositions.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Choose the correct form of the preposition (accusative or dative) to complete the sentences.

1. Ich gehe ___ (in) die Schule. (___)

2. Der Hund liegt ___ (unter) dem Tisch. (___)

3. Sie stellt das Bild ___ (an) die Wand. (___)

4. Wir sind ___ (auf) dem Balkon. (___)

5. Er kommt ___ (vor) das Auto. (___)

Exercise 2: Translate the Sentences

Translate the following sentences into German, using the correct prepositions.

1. I am going to the park.

2. The book is on the table.

3. She is next to the window.

4. We are driving under the bridge.

5. He puts the apple between the oranges.

Exercise 3: Choose the Correct Case

Choose the correct case (accusative or dative) for the following sentences.

1. Ich lege das Handy ___ (in) die Tasche. (accusative/dative)

2. Das Auto steht ___ (vor) dem Haus. (accusative/dative)

3. Sie geht ___ (neben) die Straße. (accusative/dative)

4. Die Katze sitzt ___ (auf) dem Stuhl. (accusative/dative)

5. Wir fahren ___ (hinter) das Gebäude. (accusative/dative)

Exercise 4: Match the Sentences

Match the German sentences with their English translations.

1. Sie sitzt auf dem Stuhl.

2. Ich gehe in die Stadt.

3. Der Hund liegt unter dem Tisch.

4. Wir fahren vor das Haus.

5. Er steht zwischen den Bäumen.

a. The dog is lying under the table.

b. He is standing between the trees.

c. I am going to the city.

d. We are driving in front of the house.

e. She is sitting on the chair.

Exercise 5: Create Your Own Sentences

Write five sentences using different two-way prepositions, indicating both movement and location.

Detailed Solutions and Explanations

Here are the solutions for the exercises provided above:

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

1. Ich gehe in die Schule. (accusative)

2. Der Hund liegt unter dem Tisch. (dative)

3. Sie stellt das Bild an die Wand. (accusative)

4. Wir sind auf dem Balkon. (dative)

5. Er kommt vor das Auto. (accusative)

Exercise 2: Translate the Sentences

1. Ich gehe in den Park.

2. Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch.

3. Sie ist neben dem Fenster.

4. Wir fahren unter die Brücke.

5. Er legt den Apfel zwischen die Orangen.

Exercise 3: Choose the Correct Case

1. Ich lege das Handy in die Tasche. (accusative)

2. Das Auto steht vor dem Haus. (dative)

3. Sie geht neben die Straße. (accusative)

4. Die Katze sitzt auf dem Stuhl. (dative)

5. Wir fahren hinter das Gebäude. (accusative)

Exercise 4: Match the Sentences

1 - e

2 - c

3 - a

4 - d

5 - b

Exercise 5: Create Your Own Sentences

This exercise will vary by student. Encourage creative use of different two-way prepositions!

As we wrap up this lesson, remember that practice makes perfect! Keep revisiting these concepts, and soon enough, you'll be using two-way prepositions with confidence in your everyday German conversations.

Happy learning!

Table of Contents - German Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Basic Sentence Structures

• Subject and Verb
• Noun and Gender

  ---

Greetings and Introduction

• Greetings and Goodbyes
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Definite and Indefinite Articles

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

  ---

Numbers, Dates and Time

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

  ---

Verbs and Conjugation

• Verb Forms
• Present Tense
• Separable Verbs

  ---

Family and Friends

• Family Members
• Talking About Your Friends

  ---

Prepositions

• Using Prepositions
• Two-Way Prepositions

  ---

Food and Drinks

• Food and Meals
• Drinks and Beverages

  ---

Germany and German-Speaking Countries

• Geography and Landmarks
• Cuisine and Traditions

  ---

Pronouns and Possessives

• Personal Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Booking a Trip
• Public Transportation

  ---

Modal Verbs

• Expressing Abilities
• Talking About Obligations

  ---

Shopping and Clothes

• Shopping for Clothes
• Buying Groceries

  ---

Music and Entertainment

• Popular Musicians and Genres
• Movies, TV and Literature

  ---

Adjectives

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Comparative and Superlative Forms

  ---

Health and Body

• Talking About Health
• Body Parts

  ---

Time and Temporal Prepositions

• Using Time Expressions
• Temporal Prepositions

Sources

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

Other 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

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