German prepositions with Akkusativ or Dativ (Wechselpräpositionen): List with lots of examples
by Maja Latawiec
Some place-determining prepositions in German are not faithful to a single case. These are so-called variable prepositions, or Wechselpräpositionen. Depending on the context, they combine with the accusative (Akkusativ) or the objective (Dativ). This group includes:
an
by, on
auf
on
hinter
behind
in
in
neben
next to
unter
under
über
over
vor
in front of
zwischen
between
These cases often occur together with verbs: stehen (to stand), stellen (to put), sitzen (to sit), setzen (to sit down), liegen (to lie down), legen (to lay down), hängen (to hang). Note that some of these involve movement, while others do not.
For example, let’s compare the verbs setzen and sitzen. Setzen (to sit down) is associated with movement, some kind of interaction, while sitzen (to sit) does not express any movement.
This allows us to determine which case we should use.
Verbs expressing movement are combined with the Accusativ, e.g.: stellen (to put), legen (to lay).
Verbs expressing location (nothing moves, objects/persons stand still) are combined with the Dativ, e.g.: stehen (stand), liegen (lie).
Die Katze sitzt vor dem Fenster und beobachtet die Vögel.
The cat sits in front of the window and watches the birds.
Die Katze setzt sich vor das Fenster, um die Vögel zu beobachten.
The cat sits in front of the window to watch the birds.
The preposition “zwischen”: example sentences
German
English
Die Katze liegt zwischen den Stühlen.
The cat is between the chairs.
Die Katze läuft zwischen die Stühle.
The cat runs between the chairs.
Die Lampe steht zwischen den beiden Fenstern.
The lamp stands between the two windows.
Ich stelle die Lampe zwischen die beiden Fenster.
I place the lamp between the two windows.
Do you now understand why the article’s genus differs in the sentences: Das Bild hängt an der Wand (The painting hangs on the wall), and Ich hänge das Bild an die Wand (I hang the painting on the wall)?
