German Genitive Prepositions: innerhalb & außerhalb
Innerhalb and außerhalb do double duty in German — they can describe where something is and when something happens — and both meanings follow the same genitive-preposition rules. Here's how to use them as place prepositions, as time prepositions, and what to do when the genitive case isn't visible.
Innerhalb & Außerhalb as Local (Place) Prepositions
Innerhalb means "inside/within" a place, and außerhalb means "outside" a place. Both take the genitive case.
Der Supermarkt liegt außerhalb der Stadt. (The supermarket is located outside the city.)
Innerhalb des Gebäudes ist Rauchen verboten. (Smoking is forbidden inside the building.)
Innerhalb & Außerhalb as Time Prepositions
The same two words also work for time: innerhalb means "within" a period of time, and außerhalb means "outside" a period of time.
Ich melde mich innerhalb einer Woche bei dir. (I'll get back to you within a week.)
Außerhalb der Geschäftszeiten ist das Büro geschlossen. (Outside of business hours, the office is closed.)
When to Add "von"
Sometimes the noun that follows innerhalb or außerhalb can't show a clear genitive ending — plural nouns without an article, or proper nouns and names, for example. In those cases, German swaps in "von" + dative instead: außerhalb von Deutschland (outside of Germany), rather than forcing an awkward genitive form.
Frequently Asked Questions
What case do innerhalb and außerhalb take?
Both are genitive prepositions.
Can innerhalb and außerhalb describe time as well as place?
Yes — both work as local prepositions (inside/outside a place) and as time prepositions (within/outside a period of time).
When do you add "von" after innerhalb or außerhalb?
When the following noun has no clear genitive ending — such as a plural noun without an article, or a proper noun — "von" plus dative replaces the genitive construction.
What's an example of innerhalb used for time?
"Ich melde mich innerhalb einer Woche bei dir" (I'll get back to you within a week).
What's an example of außerhalb used for place?
"Der Supermarkt liegt außerhalb der Stadt" (The supermarket is located outside the city).
Details like these are exactly what our B1 German course covers, so they become second nature.
