Local Dative Prepositions in German
To say where something is, German uses nine small prepositions and the Dativ. In this lesson Luzi shows you the nine local prepositions with the Dativ, one picture and one example sentence for each, the Dativ articles you need, and a bonus tip about im and am.
When Do You Use the Dativ for Location?
The question is always the same: Wo? (Where?). Whenever you describe where something is and it is not moving, you use the Dativ. For example: Wo ist die Tasche? (Where is the bag?) Die Tasche ist auf dem Tisch. (The bag is on the table.) The bag is the subject, so die Tasche does not change. The table comes after the preposition, so der Tisch becomes dem Tisch.
The Dativ Articles
| masculine | feminine | neuter | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| definite (bestimmt) | dem | der | dem | den |
| indefinite (unbestimmt) | einem | einer | einem | no article |
Masculine and neuter are the same. If you are not sure about the Dativ or the Akkusativ yet, watch what is the Dativ and what is the Akkusativ first.
The 9 Local Prepositions
| Preposition | Meaning |
|---|---|
| auf | on, on top of |
| an | at, by (very close, usually touching) |
| neben | next to, beside |
| vor | in front of |
| hinter | behind (the opposite of vor) |
| zwischen | between |
| über | above |
| unter | below, under (the opposite of über) |
| in | in |
Examples With Each Preposition
Each example answers the question Wo ist ...? Look at the gender of the noun after the preposition, because that tells you which Dativ article you need.
| Preposition | Question | Answer | Gender of the noun |
|---|---|---|---|
| auf | Wo ist der Hund? | Er ist auf dem Kissen. (on the pillow) | das Kissen, neuter: dem |
| an | Wo ist der Hund? / Wo ist das Bild? | Er ist an der Wand. / Es ist an der Wand. (on the wall) | die Wand, feminine: der |
| neben | Wo ist der Hund? | Er ist neben der Frau. (next to the woman) | die Frau, feminine: der |
| vor | Wo ist die Katze? | Sie sitzt vor dem Fenster. (in front of the window) | das Fenster, neuter: dem |
| hinter | Wo sind die Hunde? | Sie sind hinter den Näpfen. (behind the bowls) | die Näpfe, plural: den (and the noun gets an extra -n) |
| zwischen | Wo ist die Katze? | Sie ist zwischen der Pflanze und der Lampe. (between the plant and the lamp) | both feminine: der |
| über | Wo ist der Hund? | Er ist über den Wolken. (above the clouds) | die Wolken, plural: den |
| unter | Wo ist der Hund? | Er ist unter dem Kind. (below the child) | das Kind, neuter: dem |
| in | Wo ist der Hund? | Er ist in dem Schuh. / Er ist im Auto. (in the shoe / in the car) | der Schuh, masculine: dem; das Auto, neuter: dem |
More example sentences from the video, using a different article each time: Er ist auf einem Berg. (He is on a mountain. Der Berg is masculine, so einem.) Er ist neben einer Frau. (He is next to a woman. Die Frau is feminine, so einer.) Die Katze ist in der Schale. (The cat is in the bowl. Die Schale is feminine, so der.)
A tip about gender from the video: the nouns Pflanze and Lampe both end in -e, and nouns that end in -e are most probably feminine.
How to Practise These Prepositions
You only need one situation, and then you can make many sentences out of it. Take something simple, for example your computer on the table, and describe it with as many prepositions as possible: auf dem Tisch, unter der Decke (below the ceiling), vor mir (in front of me), neben dem Schrank (next to the closet). You do not have to change the situation every time. You only change the preposition and the object, and that is how you practise the articles and the prepositions together.
Bonus Tip: im and am
Im and am look strange at the beginning, but they are only short forms:
| Short form | Long form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| im | in + dem | Der Hund ist im Auto. |
| am | an + dem | Die Katze ist am Fenster. (The cat is right at the window.) |
This is only possible for masculine and neuter nouns, because only dem melts into the preposition. You can also say an dem Fenster, there is nothing wrong with that, but usually the shorter form is the more common one, so am and im are what you will hear most.
Homework
Where is your phone right now? Write the answer in a full sentence with one of the nine prepositions, for example Mein Handy ist auf dem Tisch or Mein Handy ist in der Tasche. Share it in the YouTube comments.
What to Learn Next
Prepositions like auf and in can also take the Akkusativ. Learn when in German two-way prepositions: Dativ or Akkusativ, see all A1 prepositions in all German A1 level prepositions, and practise placing objects in stellen, legen, stehen, liegen practice exercises.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the local prepositions with the Dativ in German?
Auf, an, neben, vor, hinter, zwischen, über, unter and in. They answer the question Wo? (Where?) when something is not moving.
Which article do you use after local prepositions?
The Dativ article: dem for masculine and neuter, der for feminine, den for plural (the noun also gets an extra -n). With indefinite articles it is einem and einer.
What is the difference between auf and an in German?
Auf means on top of something (auf dem Tisch). An means at or by something, very close and usually touching it (an der Wand).
What does im mean in German?
Im is a short form of in dem, as in im Auto. Am is a short form of an dem, as in am Fenster. This only works for masculine and neuter nouns.
How do you ask where something is in German?
Ask Wo ist ...?, for example Wo ist dein Handy?, and answer with a local preposition and the Dativ, for example Mein Handy ist auf dem Tisch.
Prepositions are easier when you can see and hear them in context. In our A1 course for German learners you practise them step by step, with videos, worksheets and our answers to every question you ask.
