Distinguish location from a destination and choose the dative or accusative.
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What you will learn
Distinguish location from a destination and choose the dative or accusative.
Two-way prepositions: wo and wohin
An, auf, hinter, in, neben, über, unter, vor and zwischen are two-way prepositions. For wo, the dative describes where an event takes place. For wohin, the accusative marks its destination or a new position.
Compare Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch and Ich lege das Buch auf den Tisch. The first describes location; the second gives the book a new position. Similar pairs are sitzen/setzen and stehen/stellen.
Movement alone does not mean accusative. Ich laufe im Park describes running within the park, so im means in dem. Ich laufe in den Park means running into the park. In dem contracts to im, and in das to ins.
Rule summary
Form
Use
Wo? → Dativ
auf dem Tisch · in der Küche
Wohin? → Akkusativ
auf den Tisch · in die Küche
in dem / in das
im / ins
Examples
Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch.
Meaning
The book is lying on the table.
Ich lege das Buch auf den Tisch.
Meaning
I put the book on the table.
Die Kinder spielen im Garten.
Meaning
The children are playing in the garden.
Wir gehen ins Kino.
Meaning
We are going to the cinema.
Lesson exercises
A2 · 10
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Exercise 1 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context.
Das Buch liegt auf ___ Tisch.
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: dem
Why? Liegen describes location here: dem Tisch.
Exercise 2 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context.
Ich lege das Buch auf ___ Tisch.
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: den
Why? Legen gives the destination here: den Tisch.
Exercise 3 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context.
Die Kinder spielen in ___ Garten. (der Garten)
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: dem
Why? Playing takes place within the garden: dative.
Exercise 4 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context.
Ich gehe in ___ Garten. (von draußen hinein)
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: den
Why? The destination is inside the garden: accusative.
Exercise 5 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context.
___ liegt der Schlüssel? — Auf dem Tisch.
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: Wo
Why? Wo asks where the key is.
Exercise 6 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context.
___ legst du den Schlüssel? — Auf den Tisch.
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: Wohin
Why? Wohin asks for the key’s new position.
Exercise 7 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context.
Ich laufe im Park. → Kasus nach in?
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: Dativ
Why? Running within a location still takes dative here.
Exercise 8 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context.
Das Bild hängt an ___ Wand. (die Wand, fester Ort)
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: der
Why? The fixed location takes der Wand here.
Exercise 9 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context.
Ich hänge das Bild an ___ Wand. (neue Position)
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: die
Why? The new position takes die Wand here.
Exercise 10 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context.
in das Kino → ?
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: ins Kino
Why? In das contracts to ins.
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Grammar references for further reading
Original A2 lessons, examples and exercises by WikiGerman. Study them in order or choose a topic to review.