Prepositions of Direction

Prepositions of direction are using to answer the question Wohin (Where to?) In German, prepositions of direction often indicate movement towards a specific location.

Note!

• an + das = ans
• in + das = ins

1) in (into, in) + Akkusative

• used to indicate movement into an enclosed or defined space
  • Ich gehe in die Schule (I am going to school; entering the building)
  • Wir fahren in die Stadt (We are driving into the city; crossing city border)
• used when referring to countries or large geographic areas that are plural or have an article
  • Ich gehe in die Schweiz (I am going to Switzerland; die Schweiz)
  • Sie fährt in die Berge (She is driving to the mountains; area you are entering)

2) an (to, at) + Akkusative

• used for locations like walls, borders, or edges, and often involves a notion of being next to or beside
  • Wir gehen an den See (We are going to the lake; to the border of water and land)
  • Er stellt das Fahrrad an die Wand (He is placing the bike against the wall; touching the wall as a border)
  • Wir setzen uns an den Tisch (We are sitting down at the table, so close, that can touch the wall)
  • Der Hund läuft an die Tür (The dog is running to the door; it want to come close enough to touch the surface of the door; with zu - no intention to go close enough).
  • Ich lehne mich an die Mauer (I am leaning against the wall; touching the surface)
  • Die Katze springt an den Schrank (The cat is jumping towards the cabinet; close enough to touch it, but with no intention to go on it)

3) auf (to, onto )+ Akkusative

• Used for horizontal surfaces
  • Er legt das Buch auf den Tisch (He puts the book on the table; horizontal surface)
  • Ich klettere auf den Baum (I am climbing onto the tree; on a top of smth)
• used for more abstract destinations like events or places within a defined area
  • Ich gehe auf den Markt (I am going to the market, event; certain area)
  • Wir fahren auf das Land(We are going to the countryside; defined area)
  • Sie geht auf die Party (She is going to the party; event)
  • Das Flugzeug fliegt auf den Flughafen (The airplane is flying to the airport; defined area of the airport)
  • Sie geht auf die Universität (She is going to the university; concept of the entire area of higher educaton institution, on the contrary with school - separate building).

4) vor (in front) + Akkusative

• used to a place in front of something
  • Ich stelle das Auto vor das Haus (I’m parking the car in front of the house)
  • Er stellt sich vor die Tür (He stands in front of the door)

5) hinter (behind) + Akkusative

• used when someone or something moves to a place behind something else
  • Ich stelle das Fahrrad hinter das Haus (I’m putting the bike behind the house)
  • Er geht hinter die Garage (He’s going behind the garage)

6) über (over, across) + Akkusative

• Ich gehe über die Brücke (I am going over the bridge)
• Wir fahren über die Autobahn (We are driving on the highway)
• Er läuft über den Platz (He is walking across the square)
• Der Hund läuft über die Straße (The dog is running across the street)
• Ich fahre über die Grenze (I am driving across the border.)

7) unter (under / below) + Akkusative

• used when something is moving under something else.
  • Ich lege das Buch unter den Tisch (I’m putting the book under the table)
  • Die Katze läuft unter das Bett (The cat runs under the bed)

8) neben (next to / beside) + Akkusative

• used when something moves to a place next to something else.
  • Ich stelle den Stuhl neben den Tisch (I’m placing the chair next to the table)
  • Das Kind setzt sich neben seinen Vater (The child sits down next to his father)