Dative Prepositions
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Learn the common dative prepositions ab, aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, and zu. Distinguish destination, origin, and location, and use beim, vom, zum, and zur.
Explanation
Prepositions with the dative
The prepositions ab, aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, and zu require the dative. The preposition determines the case of the noun phrase that follows.
| Gender/number | Definite article in dative | Example |
|---|
| Masculine | dem | mit dem Bus |
| Feminine | der | bei der Ärztin |
| Neuter | dem | aus dem Büro |
| Plural | den + usually -n on the noun | mit den Freunden |
Meaning and use
| Preposition | Typical use | Example |
|---|
| ab | starting point in time or space, often without an article | ab Montag, ab Köln |
| aus | origin from a city/country; movement from inside; material/reason | aus Wien, aus dem Haus, aus Holz |
| bei | location with a person, event, or institution; simultaneous activity | bei meiner Schwester, beim Essen |
| mit | company or means of transport | mit dem Nachbarn, mit der Bahn |
| nach | destination without an article, direction, homeward movement; sequence | nach Prag, nach links, nach dem Kurs |
| seit | a starting point in the past continuing until now | seit einer Woche |
| von | origin from people, events, institutions, directions, or another starting point | vom Arzt, von der Feier |
| zu | destination involving people, events, and many institutions; movement toward | zur Apotheke, zu unseren Freunden |
Destination, origin, or location?
- Wohin?: nach + place without an article; zu + person/event/institution.
- Woher?: aus + city/country or from inside; von + person/event/institution/starting point.
- Wo?: bei + person/event/institution.
Contractions
bei + dem = beim, von + dem = vom, zu + dem = zum, zu + der = zur. These contractions are normal in everyday German. Nach Hause means movement home; zu Hause means being at home.
Exercises
- Complete each sentence with the correct dative preposition or contraction. Write only the missing form. (11)
- Build a complete sentence from the cue. Pay attention to the preposition, dative case, and contraction. (11)
- Complete the short everyday scenes with forms from the word bank. Use each form exactly once. (4)
A2 · German · Grammar