Prepositions express relations. They usually appear before the noun or pronoun to which they refer. Together with their nouns, they describe when, why, how or where something happens. A preposition always determines one of the 4 German cases for their noun.
German
English
Ich studiere von Montag bis Freitag.
I study from Monday to Friday.
Local Prepositions
Rule 1: Prepositions of place and direction correspond to the questions Where? Where to? Where from?
Typically, they are used with the dative or accusative case.
German
English
Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch.
The book is on the table.
Rule 2: As an answer to the question Wo? (where), these local prepositions always precede the person or place:
German
English
an
on, in, next to, at
auf
on top, on (with contact)
bei
next to, near to, in, with, at
hinter
behind
in
in, inside
neben
next to, near
nach
to (with countries or cities)
über
over, on top of (but without contact)
unter
under
zwischen
between
zu
to (specifically named buildings or places and people)
von
from
vor
in front of
For example:
German
English
Das Flugzeug flog über die Stadt.
The airplane flew over the city.
Bei or An?
Rule 3: These two prepositions are often mistaken by beginners. Here's how to differentiate them:
- bei is used in connection with a person, a profession (like a doctor or a lawyer), or a place of work.
German
English
Ich bin bei Alex.
I'm with Alex.
Ich bin beim Arzt.
I'm at the doctor.
- an is used as an answer to the question of where someone/something is located and means “on”, “next to”.
German
English
Er wohnt an der Grenze.
He lives on the border.
Contraction of a Preposition and an Article
Rule 4: Some prepositions can be combined with an article to create one single word:
- in + dem = im (in the)
- in + das = ins (in the)
- zu + dem = zum (to the)
- zu + der = zur (to the)
- bei + dem = beim (at the)
- von + dem = vom (from the)
- an + dem = am (at the)
Please note that this list is not complete.
German
English
Ich gehe zum Zoo.
I'm going to the zoo.