GRAMMAR Prepositions Flashcards

1
Q

Explanations:

A

Prepositions should only be learned with the case that follows them

Some prepositions only go with one case (bis + Akk, ab + Dat), and some (Wechselpräpositionen) can go with more depending on the context. The usual rule is that they are accusative when they express motion/direction, and dative when they express only location (an + Dat, Akk; vor + Dat, Akk)

Some prepositions are less commonly used and are indicated with (*)

A few common preposition-article pairs are usually contracted, as follows:

an dem > am	
hinter dem > hinterm 
unter dem > unterm
an das > ans	
in das > ins	
von dem > vom
auf das > aufs	
in dem > im	
vor das > vors
bei dem > beim	
über das > übers	
vor dem > vorm
durch das > durchs	
um das > ums	
zu dem > zum
für das > fürs	
unter das > unters	
zu der > zur
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2
Q

Through, by, because of, via

It gets me through the day.

to be represented by a lawyer

Because of the rain, the picnic was a fiasco.

I found out through/from friends.

A

durch + Akk

Es bringt mich durch den Tag.

durch einen Anwalt vertreten werden

Durch den Regen war das Picknick ein Fiasko.

Ich habe es durch Freunde erfahren.

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3
Q

For

a message for you

A

für + Akk

eine Nachricht für dich

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4
Q

Against; around, about (time)

A

gegen + Akk

Against:
„Gegen die Wand” (movie title)
(Against the Wall)

Alle sind gegen mich.
(Everyone’s against me.)

Around, about (time):
Gegen Mitternacht gingen wir ins Bett.
(We went to bed around midnight.)

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5
Q

Without

A

ohne + Akk

ohne Zweifel
(without a doubt)

Ohne dich kann ich nicht leben.
(I can’t live without you.)

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6
Q

Around, at (time)

A

um + Akk

um den Block laufen
(to walk around the block)

at (a time)
Wir treffen uns um 14:00 Uhr.
(We’re meeting at 2 pm.)

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7
Q

From (a point in time)

A

ab + Dat

ab dem ersten Schultag
from the first day of school

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8
Q

From

A

aus + Dat

Origin or source:
Ich komme aus den USA.
(I come from the US.)

Out of:
Tomaten aus der Dose
(tomatoes out of the can)

Made of:
aus Metall
(made from/of metal)

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9
Q

Except for, besides, apart from, out of

A

außer + Dat

except for:
keiner außer mir
(no one except for me)

out of:
außer Kontrolle
(out of control)

außer Betrieb
(out of order)

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10
Q

At; with/ at the house of

A

bei + Dat

at:
Wasser kocht bei hundert Grad.
(Water boils at 100 degrees.)

bei der Arbeit
(at work)

with/ at the house of:
Ich bleibe bei dir
(I’ll stay at your place)

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11
Q

according to (common)

A

Laut + Dat

laut dem Pressesprecher…
according to the press spokesman…

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12
Q

With, over (time), at (an age)

A

mit + Dat

With:
Bier mit Cola

Over (time):
mit den Jahren
(over the years)

at (an age)
ein Kind mit 2 Jahren
(a two year old child)

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13
Q

After, to, according to

A

nach + Dat

after:
nach der Schule
(after school)

according to:
nach meiner Meinung
(according to (in) my opinion)

to:
Ich fliege nach Deutschland
(I’m flying to Germany)

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14
Q

Since (point in time), for (time period)

A

seit + Dat

since:
seit September
(since September)

for:
seit langer Zeit
(for a long time)

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15
Q

From, of, by

A

von + Dat

from:
Ich komme von der Arbeit.
(I’m coming from work.)

of:
die Königin von England
(the Queen of England)

by:
von Hand gemacht
(made by hand)

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16
Q

To, at, too (adverb)

A

zu + Dat

to:
Ich gehe zum Arzt.
(I’m going to the doctor.)

at:
zu diesem Zeitpunkt
(at this point in time)

too (adverb):
zu groß
(too big)

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17
Q

At, on

A

an + Dat
+ Akk

at (Akk)
Setz dich an den Tisch.
(Sit down at the table.)

on (Akk):
ein Bild an die Wand hängen
to hang a picture on the wall

on (Dat)
Das Bild hängt an der Wand.
(The picture hangs on the wall.)

Note that while the word auf usually implies a position on top of something,
an is more like “beside” or suspended from.

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18
Q

On, up

A

auf + Dat
+ Akk

up (Akk):
auf den Berg steigen
(to climb up the mountain)

on (Akk)
eine Vase auf den Tisch stellen
(to set a vase down on the table)

on (Dat):
Die Vase steht auf dem Tisch.
(The vase is on the table.)

Note that while the word auf usually implies a position on top of something,
an is more like “beside” or suspended from.

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19
Q

Behind

A

hinter + Dat
+ Akk

Akk:
ein Blick hinter die Kulissen
(a glimpse behind the scenes)

Dat:
Was passiert hinter den Kulissen?
(What’s happening behind the scenes?)

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20
Q

Into, to; in

A

in + Dat (in)
+ Akk (into, to)

Akk:
Die Kinder gehen in die Schule.
(The kids are going to school.)

Dat:
Was hast du in der Schule gelernt?
(What did you learn in school?)

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21
Q

Near, next to

A

neben + Dat
+ Akk

Akk:
Komm, setz dich neben mich.
(Come sit down next to me.)

Dat:
Der Platz neben mir ist frei.
(The seat next to me is free.)

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22
Q

Over, above

A

über + Dat
+ Akk

over (Akk):
Der Zug fuhr über die Brücke.
(The train went over the bridge.)

over (Dat):
Die Sonne hing über dem Meer.
(The sun hung over the sea.)

about (Akk):
Wir redeten über den Film.
(We talked about the movie.)

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23
Q

Under, below; among

A

unter + Dat
+ Akk

under (Akk):
Schau unters Bett vorm Schlafengehen.
(Look under the bed before going to sleep.)

under (Dat):
Ein Monster versteckt sich unterm Bett.
(A monster is hiding under the bed.)

among (Dat):
ein Schaf unter Wölfen
(a sheep among wolves)

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24
Q

In front of, of, before

A

vor + Dat
+ Akk

in front of (Akk):
Ich stellte mich vors Mikro(fon).
(I went up to the microphone.)

in front of (Dat):
Der Tisch steht vor dem Fenster.
(The table is in front of the window.)

of (Dat):
Angst vor Höhe
(fear of heights)

before (Dat)
Ich muss es vorm Wochenende machen.
(I have to do it before the weekend.)

25
Between
zwischen + Dat + Akk Akk: etwas zwischen die Finger bekommen (to get a hold of something) Dat: zwischen dir und mir (between you and me)
26
Instead of
(an)statt + Gen | Statt der erwarteten Beförderung bekam er die Kündigung. Instead of the expected promotion, he was let go.
27
Less, minus
abzüglich + Gen | abzüglich der Unkosten... minus the expenses...
28
In view of, given
angesichts + Gen | Angesichts der Tatsache, dass… In view of the fact that…
29
Outside of
außerhalb + Gen | außerhalb der Stadt outside the city
30
Concerning, regarding, with respect to
bezüglich + Gen | bezüglich unseres Telefonats regarding our phone conversation
31
Within (a time period)
binnen + Gen | binnen einer Woche within a/one week
32
Thanks to
dank + Gen (frequently + Dat) | dank Ihrer Hilfe... thanks to your help...
33
Including
einschließlich + Gen | einschließlich aller Kosten all expenses included
34
Due to, because of
infolge + Gen | infolge einer schweren Erkrankung due to a serious illness
35
In the middle/midst of
inmitten + Gen | inmitten der Menge in the middle of the crowd
36
Inside of, within
innerhalb + Gen | innerhalb eines kleinen Kreises within a small circle (of people)
37
By means of (esp. technical)
mittels + Gen | mittels eines Schraubenziehers... using a screwdriver...
38
In spite of
ungeachtet + Gen | Ungeachtet der Drohungen des Irans will Deutschland Sanktionen. In spite of Iran's threats, Germany wants sanctions.
39
Below, underneath
unterhalb + Gen | unterhalb der Armutsgrenze below the poverty line
40
Not far from
unweit + Gen | unweit des Hotels not far from the hotel
41
Despite
trotz + Gen (frequently + Dat) | trotz des schlechten Wetters (Gen trotz dem schlechten Wetter (Dat) despite the bad weather)
42
During
während + Gen | Während des Semesters gelten folgende Sprechstunden... During the semester the following office hours apply...
43
Because of
wegen + Gen (frequently + Dat) | wegen Krankheit geschlossen closed due to illness
44
Until, by
bis + Akk Until, to: Zähle von 1 bis 10. (Count from 1 to 10.) By: Bis wann mussen wir fertig sein? (By when do we have to be finished?)
53
Along(side)*
entlang* + Gen (usually) + Akk (when postpositional) die Häuser entlang der Straße (Gen) (the houses along the street) den Strand entlang laufen (Akk) (to walk along the beach)
54
According to (legal term)*
gemäß* + Dat | unseren Instinkten gemäß… according to our instincts…
55
Close*
nahe* + Dat | nahe der Natur close to nature
56
including, together with*
(mit)samt* + Dat
57
Above, beyond*
oberhalb* + Gen | oberhalb des Gefrierpunktes above the freezing point
58
In favor of, in the interests of*
zugunsten* + Gen | zugunsten meines Mandanten in the interest of my client
59
Notwithstanding, despite of what*
unbeschadet* + Gen unbeschadet des zuvor Gesagten... (despite/notwithstanding what was just said...) unbeschadet dessen, dass... (notwithstanding the fact that...)
60
For lack of (esp. legal)*
mangels* + Gen | Das Verfahren war mangels Beweisen eingestellt. The case was dismissed for lack of evidence.
61
Devoid of, bearing any*
bar* + Gen | Bar jeder Vernunft against all reason, devoid of any reason
62
Across from, to (a person)*
gegenüber* + Dat across from: gegenüber der Strasse (across the street) to (a person): Mir gegenüber hat er nichts darüber gesagt. (He didn’t say anything to me about it.)
63
Considering, according to*
entsprechend* + Dat | den Umständen entsprechend... considering the circumstances...
64
Towards, contrary to*
entgegen* + Dat | Sie lief mir entgegen. She ran towards me.
65
Against (idiomatic)*
wider* + Akk wider meinen Willen (against my will) (more idiomatic/ literary than "gegen")
66
Concerning, with reference to*
betreffend* + Akk | Ihre Anfrage betreffend... Regarding your inquiry...