Two-Way Prepositions
Movement takes the accusative, location the dative: Ech ginn an d'Stad. (I am going into town.) Ech sinn an der Stad. (I am in town.)
How It Works
The prepositions
- an – in, into; op – on, onto; un – at, on (a wall, a door)
- ënner (also ënnert) – under; iwwer (also iwwert) – over, above
- virun – in front of; hannert (also hanner) – behind
- nieft (also niewent) – next to; tëscht (also tëschent) – between
Wuer? or wou?
Ask wou/wuer. Wuer (where to) means movement toward a place, so you use the accusative: an d'Stad, op den Dësch, hannert d'Haus. Wou (where) means a location, so you use the dative: an der Stad, um Dësch, hannert dem Haus.
Verb pairs
Many verbs come in pairs. Leeën, stellen and setzen (put) take the accusative; leien, stoen and sëtzen (be lying, standing, sitting) take the dative. Ech leeën d'Buch op den Dësch. D'Buch läit um Dësch. See positional verbs.
Contractions
In the dative, an dem becomes am, op dem becomes um and virun dem becomes virum. See am/um/vum/mam/beim.
Time
With time phrases these prepositions take the dative: an zwee Deeg (in two days), am Summer, virun enger Woch.
Bei works in a similar way with people: beim Dokter (dative, location), bei den Dokter (accusative, going there). See going places: an/op/bei.
Examples (6)
- Ech ginn an d'Stad.
I am going into town.
Word by Word: I go into the town.
Goen is movement toward a place, so an takes the accusative d'Stad.
- Ech sinn an der Stad.
I am in town.
Word by Word: I am in the town.
Sinn describes a location, so an takes the dative der Stad.
- Ech leeën d'Buch op den Dësch.
I am putting the book on the table.
Word by Word: I lay the book onto the table.
Leeën means to put, so op takes the accusative den Dësch.
- D'Buch läit um Dësch.
The book is lying on the table.
Word by Word: The book lies on-the table.
Leien describes where something is. Op dem becomes um.
- Hie fiert den Auto hannert d'Haus.
He is driving the car behind the house.
Word by Word: He drives the car behind the house.
The car moves to a new place, so hannert takes the accusative.
- Den Auto steet hannert dem Haus.
The car is behind the house.
Word by Word: The car stands behind the house.
The car is already there, so hannert takes the dative.
Common Mistakes
Using the dative for movement toward a place.
Ech ginn an der Stad.Ech ginn an d'Stad.Going somewhere answers the question wuer?, so an takes the accusative d'Stad.
Using the accusative for a location.
D'Buch läit op den Dësch.D'Buch läit um Dësch.Leien describes where something is. That answers wou?, so op takes the dative and op dem becomes um.
Mixing up leien (be lying) and leeën (put).
Ech leien d'Buch op den Dësch.Ech leeën d'Buch op den Dësch.Leien means to be lying somewhere and takes no object. To put something down, use leeën with the accusative.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Two-Way Prepositions, learn Prepositions With the Dative, Prepositions With the Accusative and Where and Where To: Wou and Wuer.
- Prepositions With the Dative
For a location, two-way prepositions take the dative, like the dative prepositions.
Level 2 - Prepositions With the Accusative
For movement toward a place, they take the accusative, like the accusative prepositions.
Level 2 - wou / wuerWhere and Where to: Wou and Wuer
The choice matches the questions wou? and wuer?
Level 1
Related Patterns
- stoen / sëtzen / leienStanding, Sitting, Lying: Stoen, Sëtzen, Leien
Verb pairs such as leien and leeën decide whether the dative or the accusative follows.
Level 3 - am / um / vum / mam / beimPreposition and Article Contractions
In the dative, an dem and op dem become am and um.
Level 2 - Going Places: an / op / beiGoing Places: An, Op and Bei
An, op and bei with the accusative are the usual ways to say where you are going.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Two-Way Prepositions in Bubblegum
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