German Two-Way Prepositions

Front 1

Es lag auf dem Sofa.

Back 1

It was lying on the sofa.

(location = dative)

Front 2

Ich warf es auf das Sofa.

Back 2

I threw it onto the sofa.

(motion towards = accusative)

Front 3

auf Deutsch

Back 3

in German

(NB: Übersetzen Sie aus dem Englishen ins Deutsche. [substantive adjectives])

Front 4

auf dem Land sein

Back 4

to be in the country

(location = dative)

Front 5

aufs Land gehen

Back 5

to go to the country

(motion towards = accusative)

Front 6

auf einer Reise sein

Back 6

to be on a trip

(location = dative)

Front 7

auf eine Reise gehen

Back 7

to go on a trip

(motion towards = accusative)

Front 8

Das Bild hing an der Wand.

Back 8

The picture was hanging on the wall.

(location = dative)

Front 9

Ich hängte es an die Wand.

Back 9

I hung it on the wall.

(motion towards = accusative)

Front 10

an der Grenze

Back 10

at the border

(location = dative)

Front 11

am Rand

Back 11

at the edge

(location = dative)

Front 12

am Strand

Back 12

at the beach

(location = dative)

Front 13

am Fenster

Back 13

at the window

(location = dative)

Front 14

an die Grenze

Back 14

to the border

(motion towards = accusative)

Front 15

an den Rand

Back 15

to the edge

(motion towards = accusative)

Front 16

an den Strand

Back 16

to the beach

(motion towards = accusative)

Front 17

ans Fenster

Back 17

to the window

(motion towards = accusative)

Front 18

Wir fahren an die Grenze.

Back 18

We're driving up to the border [i.e., but not across it].

(motion towards = accusative)

Front 19

an der Universität sein

Back 19

to be at the university

(location = dative)

Front 20

an der Ecke stehen

Back 20

to stand on the corner

(location = dative)

Front 21

an die Arbeit gehen

Back 21

to go to work

(motion towards = accusative)

Front 22

am Telefon sprechen

Back 22

to speak on the phone

(location = dative)

Front 23

ans Telefon gehen

Back 23

to go to the phone

(motion towards = accusative)

Front 24

Er arbeitete hinter dem Haus.

Back 24

He was working behind the house.

(location = dative)

Front 25

Er ist gerade hinter das Haus gegangen.

Back 25

He just went behind the house.

(motion towards = accusative)

Front 26

Er ist in der Küche.

Back 26

He's in the kitchen.

(location = dative)

Front 27

Er geht in die Küche.

Back 27

He's going into the kitchen.

(motion towards = accusative)

Front 28

ins Theater (Kino) gehen

Back 28

to go to the theater (movies)

(motion towards = accusative)

Front 29

in der Schule sein

Back 29

to be in (at) school

(location = dative)

Front 30

in die Schule gehen

Back 30

to go to school

(motion towards = accusative)

Front 31

im Bett sein

Back 31

to be in bed

(location = dative)

Front 32

ins Bett gehen

Back 32

to go to bed

(motion towards = accusative)

Front 33

im 3. Stock

Back 33

on the 4th (!) floor

(location = dative)

Front 34

in der Bundesrepublik

Back 34

in the Federal Republic of Germany

(location = dative)

Front 35

in die Bundesrepublik

Back 35

to the Federal Republic (of Germany)

(motion towards = accusative)

Front 36

im Radio und im Fernsehen

Back 36

on the radio and on TV

(location = dative)

Front 37

Ich wohne in der Hauptstraße.

Back 37

I live on Main Street.

(location = dative)

Cf. Ich wohne Hauptstraße 187. (No preposition when street number is given!)

Front 38

Es steht neben dem Bett.

Back 38

It's standing next to the bed.

(location = dative)

Front 39

Stell es neben das Bett.

Back 39

Put it next to the bed.

(motion towards = accusative)

Front 40

Das Bild hing über meinem Schreibtisch.

Back 40

The picture hung over my desk.

(location = dative)

hängen, hing, hat gehangen, hängt (intrans. strong)

Front 41

Ich hängte das Bild über meinen Schreibtisch.

Back 41

I hung the picture over my desk.

(motion towards = accusative)

hängen, hängte, hat gehängt, hängt (trans. weak)

Front 42

Sie gehen hier über die Straße.

Back 42

You go across the street here.

(motion towards = accusative)

Front 43

Es kostet über fünfzig Euro.

Back 43

It costs more than/over fifty euros.

(When über means "more than/over" it takes the accusative)

Front 44

Er ist über siebzig Jahre alt.

Back 44

He is over seventy years old.

(When über means "more than/over" it takes the accusative)

Front 45

Der Koffer ist unter dem Bett.

Back 45

The suitcase is under the bed.

(location = dative)

Front 46

Stell den Koffer unter das Bett.

Back 46

Put the suitcase under the bed.

(motion towards = accusative)

Front 47

Diese Anzüge kosten alle unter sechshundert Euro.

Back 47

All of these suits cost less than six hundred euros.

(when unter means "less than" it takes the accusative)

Front 48

Das ist unter meiner Würde.

Back 48

That's beneath my dignity.

(location = dative)

Front 49

unter uns gesagt

Back 49

just between us

(dative)

Front 50

unter dem Einfluss von

Back 50

under the influence of

(location = dative)

Front 51

unter Freunden

Back 51

among friends

(location = dative)

Front 52

Der Wagen steht vor der Tür.

Back 52

The car is standing in front of the door.

(location = dative)

Front 53

Fahr den Wagen vor die Tür

Back 53

Drive the car (up) in front of the door.

(motion towards = accusative)

Front 54

vor allem

Back 54

above all

Front 55

vor Angst

Back 55

out of fear

Front 56

vor Freude

Back 56

for joy

Front 57

Ihr Wagen steht zwischen den zwei anderen da.

Back 57

You car is standing between those two over there.

(location = dative)

Front 58

Stellen Sie Ihren Wagen zwischen die zwei anderen da.

Back 58

Park your car between those two over there.

(motion towards = accusative)