Master German Accusative prepositions like a pro!

May 16

As you delve into German, it's natural to feel daunted by the Dative and Accusative cases. However, don't be discouraged and check out the prepositions used with Accusative in this article.

German Accusative prepositions

Learning prepositions can be challenging when studying a new language. Different languages often use various prepositions, making it difficult to master them all simultaneously. In addition to selecting the correct one, you must choose the appropriate case in German since every preposition usually has an object following it. However, with patience and practice, mastering these nuances will become easier over time!

You're lucky today, as German has certain prepositions that consistently introduce an Accusative object. This knowledge can be used, especially when you understand that, for instance, "für" is always followed by an Accusative object. Knowing this, you won't have to worry about changing articles or using different pronouns such as "mich" and "mir" because you always know it should be Accusative.

In the following, you will know all the prepositions that always stand before an accusative object!

Recommended study materials on the topic:

A-Grammar: Practice German grammar German (incl. answers)
B-Grammar: Practice German grammar German (incl. answers)
German self-study book for A1-B1 (incl. answers)
Accusative or Dative wheel

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The German preposition "bis"

The translation of the German preposition "bis" into English is "until". Normally, Accusative endings are not used with "bis," since Germans generally use it for adding local and temporal information that does not require any articles.

For example:

Der Zug fährt nur bis Berlin.
Der Kurs dauert bis 18:00 Uhr.
Bis bald / morgen / Samstag ...

2. The preposition "durch"

The meaning of this preposition in English is "by" or "through." Germans use it to make local indications and to form passive sentences.

For example:

Geh durch den Tunnel!
Unsere Katze kommt durch die Tür ins Haus.
Durch Sport fühlt man sich fitter!

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3. The German preposition "für"

The German word "für" translates to "for" or "on behalf of" in English. Germans commonly use it when referring to time frames, costs, contrasts, and identifying the recipient or purpose behind something.

For example:

Ich bin für 4 Tage in Berlin gewesen.
Ich habe ein Geschenk für dich!
Das Auto wird für 2000 Euro verkauft.

4. The Accusative preposition "gegen"

This particular preposition can be likened to "against" or "towards" in English. It is commonly utilized when describing movements that involve physical contact, estimated time frames, and numerical values within a sentence.

For example:

Frau Schneider ist mit dem Auto gegen einen Baum gefahren.
Maik wird gegen 18 Uhr kommen.
Das Haus sollte gegen 15000 Euro zu verkaufen sein.

5. The German preposition "ohne"

The German word "ohne" has a corresponding English translation of "without", which serves as the antonym to its counterpart, "mit" or "with".

For example:

Ich fuhr gestern ohne Portemonnaie in den Supermarkt.
Franka besucht ihre Eltern ohne ihren Freund.
Ohne Handy fühle ich mich nicht gut!

6. The last accusative preposition "um"

The final preposition on this German list can be interpreted as "around," "about," or even "at" in English. It serves to convey information related to location, time, and numbers. Keep up the good work!

For example: