Understanding German Accusative Prepositions
In this lesson, we’ll dive into “German Accusative Prepositions,” which are essential for understanding how prepositions interact with the accusative case.
Key Concepts of Accusative Prepositions in German
Prepositions are crucial components in many languages, acting as connectors between words. They often express relationships related to direction, location, time, or manner. By linking nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words, prepositions help provide context and create cohesion in a sentence.
In German, prepositions play a key role in determining case relationships. Some prepositions specifically govern the accusative case. When using these prepositions, it’s important to ensure that the noun or pronoun that follows is in the correct accusative form.
Table 1.1 below lists commonly used accusative prepositions in German, along with their English equivalents.
| für | for, to |
| um | round, around |
| ohne | without |
| gegen | against, around |
| bis | until |
| durch | through |
In German, articles (equivalent to “the” or “a” in English) change depending on the grammatical case they are in. The accusative case primarily impacts the masculine form of the articles. Understanding these changes is crucial for constructing grammatically correct sentences, especially when using accusative prepositions or direct objects.
Table 1.2 below illustrates how these articles change in the accusative case.
| Cases | Masculine | Feminine | Neutral | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der ein | die eine | das ein | die ✖️ |
| Accusative | den einen | die eine | das ein | die ✖️ |
Bis (Until)
Although the German preposition “bis” is technically accusative, it is more commonly combined with another preposition (such as “bis zu” or “bis auf”) or used without an article (as in “bis April”). This makes it a bit more flexible in its usage, depending on the context.
1. When referring to a place, “bis” translates to “as far as” or “up to”:
🇩🇪 Ich gehe bis zum Markt.
🇺🇸 I’ll walk up to the market.
🇩🇪 Ich fahre nur bis zur nächsten Haltestelle.
🇺🇸 I am only going as far as the next stop.
2. In terms of time, “bis” translates to “until” or “by”:
🇩🇪 Das Projekt muss bis nächste Woche abgeschlossen sein.
🇺🇸 The project needs to be completed by next week.
🇩🇪 Ich werde bis zum Abendessen hier sein.
🇺🇸 I will be here until
Durch (Through)
Meaning “through” concerning place:
🇩🇪 Wir gehen durch den Wald.
🇺🇸 We’re walking through the forest.
🇩🇪 Sie fährt durch die Stadt zum Bahnhof.
🇺🇸 She drives through the city to the train station.
Für (For)
1. When translated, “für” means “for”:
🇩🇪 Das Geschenk ist für dich.
🇺🇸 The gift is for you.
🇩🇪 Ich habe etwas für dich gekauft.
🇺🇸 I bought something for you.
2. It’s also used to indicate a period of time:
🇩🇪 Er bleibt für zwei Wochen.
🇺🇸 He’s staying for two weeks.
🇩🇪 Sie bleibt für das Wochenende.
🇺🇸 She is staying for the weekend.
Gegen (Against, Around)
1. Referring to place or opposition, “gegen” means “against”:
🇩🇪 Er ist gegen die Idee.
🇺🇸 He’s against the idea.
🇩🇪 Sie hat gegen die Entscheidung protestiert.
🇺🇸 She protested against the decision.
2. “Gegen” also indicates a rough timeframe:
🇩🇪 Ich komme gegen Mittag.
🇺🇸 I’ll arrive around noon.
🇩🇪 Wir treffen uns gegen 10 Uhr.
🇺🇸 We are meeting around 10 o’clock.
Ohne (Without)
In most cases, “ohne” translates to “without”:
🇩🇪 Kaffee ohne Milch, bitte.
🇺🇸 Coffee without milk, please.
🇩🇪 Ich mag meinen Kaffee ohne Zucker.
🇺🇸 I like my coffee without sugar.
Um (Round, Around)
1. For location, “um” means “around”:
🇩🇪 Das Haus ist um die Ecke.
🇺🇸 The house is around the corner.
🇩🇪 Die Kinder spielen um das Haus.
🇺🇸 The children are playing around the house.
2. For time, “um” indicates a specific time:
🇩🇪 Das Treffen ist um 15 Uhr.
🇺🇸 The meeting is at 3 p.m.
🇩🇪 Sie ruft um 12 Uhr an.
🇺🇸 She will call at 12 o’clock.