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Grammar
DE
Deutsch — two-way prepositions
Nine German prepositions can take either the accusative or the dative. The case depends on meaning: direction toward a goal versus a fixed location.
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How it works
✓ Rule
The nine two-way prepositions are in, an, auf, über, unter, vor, hinter, neben and zwischen. Use the ACCUSATIVE for direction or movement toward a goal (Wohin? — Ich gehe in die Schule) and the DATIVE for a static location (Wo? — Ich bin in der Schule).
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Examples
| Preposition | Accusative (where to?) | Dative (where?) |
|---|---|---|
| in | in die Stadt | in der Stadt |
| an | an die Wand | an der Wand |
| auf | auf den Tisch | auf dem Tisch |
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Good to know
⚠ Note
Common contractions: in das → ins, in dem → im, an das → ans, an dem → am. The verb decides the case: legen, stellen, gehen express movement (→ accusative), while liegen, stehen, sein express position (→ dative).