What are prepositions?

Prepositions are used to connect a noun or pronoun to another word. They can be used in two ways:

Literal sense

• I am in the bath.
• The ladder was placed against the wall.

Abstract sense

• Do you believe in Father Christmas?
• He went against his will.

A preposition can never be used on its own. It must always be used with another word. In most cases, a preposition is placed before a noun or pronoun.

German prepositions can be placed into four categories:

• prepositions that take the accusative case
• prepositions that take the dative case
• prepositions that take both the accusative and dative case – these are known as dual case prepositions
• prepositions that take the genitive case