Prepositions + Accusative
Präpositionen + Akkusativ
Five German prepositions always take the accusative case: für, um, durch, gegen and ohne. Any noun after them must be accusative, so masculine der becomes den and ein becomes einen — für den Vater, ohne einen Freund — while feminine, neuter and plural forms remain unchanged.
Learn für, durch, gegen, ohne, um.
Rules & Explanations
Prepositions with Accusative
Präpositionen mit Akkusativ
Some German prepositions always trigger the accusative case — no exceptions, no thinking required. Learn these five words (für, um, durch, gegen, ohne), and you'll automatically know to use accusative after them. It's one of the most reliable rules in German!
German prepositions 'govern' a case. Accusative prepositions always require accusative — der becomes den, ein becomes einen. This happens regardless of meaning or context.
English prepositions don't change anything: 'for the man,' 'without the man' — 'the' stays the same. In German, these prepositions force the article to change: 'für den Mann,' 'ohne den Mann.'
Das Geschenk ist für den Mann.
The gift is for the man.
These prepositions appear constantly in everyday German. Knowing they always take accusative removes guesswork and makes your German more accurate.
How Prepositions Control Case
Wie Präpositionen den Fall bestimmen
Think of prepositions as customs officers at a border. Each officer (preposition) has one stamp (case) they always use. The accusative prepositions always stamp 'accusative' on every noun that passes through — no exceptions!
- ▸In German, every preposition 'governs' a specific case. This means the noun following the preposition must be in that case. It's not optional — it's a fixed rule.
- ▸Accusative prepositions always trigger accusative. When you see 'für,' your brain should immediately switch to accusative mode: für den Mann, für einen Freund, für meine Mutter.
- ▸This is different from verbs, where you need to think about subject vs. object. With prepositions, there's no thinking — just apply the required case every single time.
Germans don't think about this consciously. 'Für den Mann' sounds right; 'für der Mann' sounds horribly wrong. Build this same instinct through repetition.
The Five Accusative Prepositions
Die fünf Akkusativ-Präpositionen
There are five main prepositions that always take accusative. Memorize them!
FUGDO: Für, Um, Gegen, Durch, Ohne — all accusative!
| Meaning | Example | Example | Common Uses | Preposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| for | Das ist für dich. | That is for you. | gifts, purposes, duration, in favor of | für |
| around, at (time) | Wir gehen um den Park. | We walk around the park. | around (location), at (time: um 8 Uhr), about (concerning) | um |
| through | Wir gehen durch den Wald. | We walk through the forest. | through (space), by means of, because of | durch |
| against, around (approximate time) | Er ist gegen den Plan. | He is against the plan. | against (opposition), around (time: gegen 5 Uhr), toward | gegen |
| without | Ich gehe ohne meinen Bruder. | I go without my brother. | without (lacking something) | ohne |
Or remember: 'dogfu' — Durch, Ohne, Gegen, Für, Um
Accusative Changes After Prepositions
Akkusativ-Änderungen nach Präpositionen
Remember: only masculine changes in accusative. Let's see all forms with prepositions:
The preposition triggers accusative, but only masculine articles actually change form. Feminine/neuter/plural stay the same as nominative.
Neuter (no change)
| Acc | Nom | Prep |
|---|---|---|
| für das Kind | das Kind | für |
| um ein Haus | ein Haus | um |
| durch mein Zimmer | mein Zimmer | durch |
Feminine (no change)
| Acc | Nom | Prep |
|---|---|---|
| für die Frau | die Frau | für |
| ohne eine Schwester | eine Schwester | ohne |
| durch meine Stadt | meine Stadt | durch |
Masculine (changes)
| Acc | Nom | Prep |
|---|---|---|
| für den Mann | der Mann | für |
| ohne einen Freund | ein Freund | ohne |
| gegen meinen Bruder | mein Bruder | gegen |
Common Preposition Mistakes
Häufige Präpositions-Fehler
These are the most common mistakes with accusative prepositions.
✗Das ist für der Mann.
✓Das ist für den Mann.
für always triggers accusative: der → den.
🧠 für = accusative = den. No exceptions!
✗Ich gehe ohne mein Bruder.
✓Ich gehe ohne meinen Bruder.
ohne triggers accusative: mein → meinen (masculine).
🧠 Bruder is masculine. Masculine accusative = -en ending.
✗Wir fahren durch der Tunnel.
✓Wir fahren durch den Tunnel.
durch triggers accusative: der → den.
🧠 All five prepositions (für, um, durch, gegen, ohne) = always accusative!
✗Using dative instead of accusative
✓These five never take dative
für, um, durch, gegen, ohne are always accusative. They never switch to dative.
🧠 FUGDO = Fixed Accusative. No dative, ever.
✗Forgetting to change masculine articles
✓Masculine must change: der→den, ein→einen
Even though feminine/neuter don't change, masculine must change.
🧠 Masculine is the troublemaker — always needs the -en ending in accusative.
Accusative Prepositions Overview
Akkusativ-Präpositionen Übersicht
| Preposition | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| für | for | für den Vater | for the father |
| um | around, at | um den Tisch | around the table |
| durch | through | durch den Park | through the park |
| gegen | against | gegen den Wind | against the wind |
| ohne | without | ohne den Schlüssel | without the key |
These five prepositions always take accusative — 100% of the time, no exceptions.
FUGDO: Für, Um, Gegen, Durch, Ohne = Always Accusative!
Article Changes After Accusative Prepositions
Artikeländerungen nach Akkusativ-Präpositionen
| Gender | Nominative | After Acc. Prep. | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | der/ein/mein | den/einen/meinen | für den Mann |
| Feminine | die/eine/meine | die/eine/meine (same) | für die Frau |
| Neuter | das/ein/mein | das/ein/mein (same) | für das Kind |
| Plural | die/meine | die/meine (same) | für die Kinder |
Only masculine changes after accusative prepositions. Feminine, neuter, plural stay the same.
Masculine = changes (den/einen). Everything else = same as nominative.
um for Time
um für Zeitangaben
'um' is also used for clock times: 'um 8 Uhr' (at 8 o'clock), 'um Mitternacht' (at midnight). In these time expressions, there's no visible article change because numbers and time words work differently. But it's still the same accusative preposition!
'um' wird auch für Uhrzeiten verwendet: 'um 8 Uhr' (um 8 Uhr), 'um Mitternacht' (um Mitternacht).
um + time = at: um 8 Uhr = at 8 o'clock. Same preposition, different use!
um for 'around' (space) and 'at' (time). Both are accusative!
gegen for Approximate Time
gegen für ungefähre Zeit
'gegen' can mean 'around' for approximate times: 'gegen 5 Uhr' (around 5 o'clock), 'gegen Mittag' (around noon). It expresses 'approximately' rather than exact time (which uses 'um').
'gegen' kann 'ungefähr' für Zeitangaben bedeuten: 'gegen 5 Uhr' (gegen 5 Uhr).
um = exact time (um 5 Uhr = at 5). gegen = approximate time (gegen 5 Uhr = around 5).
um 5 = at 5 (exactly). gegen 5 = around 5 (approximately).
Dialogue: Planning a Birthday Party
Dialog: Eine Geburtstagsfeier planen
Lisa
Die Party ist für meinen Bruder.
The party is for my brother.
für + meinen Bruder (masculine accusative)
Tom
Wann fängt sie an? Um 7 Uhr?
When does it start? At 7 o'clock?
um + time expression
Lisa
Ja, gegen 7 Uhr. Kommst du ohne deine Schwester?
Yes, around 7. Are you coming without your sister?
gegen + time (approx.), ohne + deine Schwester (feminine = no change)
Tom
Nein, sie kommt auch. Wir gehen durch den Park zur Party.
No, she's coming too. We'll walk through the park to the party.
durch + den Park (masculine accusative)
Lisa
Ich hoffe, das Wetter ist nicht gegen uns!
I hope the weather isn't against us!
gegen + uns (accusative pronoun)
Two friends planning a surprise birthday party
Zwei Freunde planen eine Überraschungs-Geburtstagsfeier
Notice all five accusative prepositions: für (meinen Bruder), um (7 Uhr), gegen (7 Uhr, uns), durch (den Park), ohne (deine Schwester). Masculine nouns show the change (meinen, den), feminine stays the same (deine).
Quick Reference: Accusative Prepositions
Kurzübersicht: Akkusativ-Präpositionen
- ▸Five prepositions always take accusative: für, um, durch, gegen, ohne
- ▸Only masculine changes: der→den, ein→einen, mein→meinen
- ▸Feminine, neuter, plural stay the same as nominative
für, um, durch, gegen, ohne + always accusative (der→den, ein→einen)
Learn dative case and prepositions that take dative (mit, von, zu, etc.).
- ▸für der Mann ❌ → für den Mann ✓
- ▸ohne mein Bruder ❌ → ohne meinen Bruder ✓
- ▸Forgetting these prepositions always need accusative
FUGDO: Für, Um, Gegen, Durch, Ohne = Fixed Accusative. No exceptions!
The prepositions für, um, durch, gegen, ohne always require accusative case — masculine articles change (der→den), others stay the same.
Examples
Das Geschenk ist für meinen Vater.
The gift is for my father.
für meinen Vaterfür + accusative: mein → meinen (masculine).
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Das Geschenk | the gift |
| ist | is |
| für | for (acc. prep.) |
| meinen Vater | my father (accusative) |
Ich arbeite für eine große Firma.
I work for a big company.
für eine große Firmafür + accusative: eine stays eine (feminine = no change).
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ich | I |
| arbeite | work |
| für | for |
| eine große Firma | a big company (acc., fem.) |
Danke für den Kaffee!
Thanks for the coffee!
für den Kaffeefür + accusative: der Kaffee → den Kaffee (masculine).
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Danke | thanks |
| für | for |
| den Kaffee | the coffee (accusative) |
Die Kinder laufen um den Tisch.
The children run around the table.
um den Tischum + accusative: der Tisch → den Tisch.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Die Kinder | the children |
| laufen | run |
| um | around |
| den Tisch | the table (accusative) |
Wir treffen uns um 8 Uhr.
We meet at 8 o'clock.
um 8 Uhrum for exact time: um 8 Uhr = at 8 o'clock.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Wir | we |
| treffen uns | meet |
| um | at |
| 8 Uhr | 8 o'clock |
Es geht um einen wichtigen Termin.
It's about an important appointment.
um einen wichtigen Terminum + accusative (meaning "about"): ein → einen.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Es geht | it's about |
| um | about |
| einen wichtigen Termin | an important appointment (acc.) |
Wir gehen durch den Park.
We walk through the park.
durch den Parkdurch + accusative: der Park → den Park.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Wir | we |
| gehen | walk |
| durch | through |
| den Park | the park (accusative) |
Der Zug fährt durch einen Tunnel.
The train goes through a tunnel.
durch einen Tunneldurch + accusative: ein Tunnel → einen Tunnel.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Der Zug | the train |
| fährt | goes |
| durch | through |
| einen Tunnel | a tunnel (accusative) |
Ich habe es durch das Fenster gesehen.
I saw it through the window.
durch das Fensterdurch + accusative: das Fenster stays das Fenster (neuter = no change).
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ich | I |
| es | it |
| durch | through |
| das Fenster | the window (acc., neuter) |
| habe gesehen | saw |
Er ist gegen den Plan.
He is against the plan.
gegen den Plangegen + accusative: der Plan → den Plan.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Er | he |
| ist | is |
| gegen | against |
| den Plan | the plan (accusative) |
Wir kommen gegen 5 Uhr.
We'll come around 5 o'clock.
gegen 5 Uhrgegen for approximate time: gegen 5 Uhr = around 5.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Wir | we |
| kommen | come |
| gegen | around |
| 5 Uhr | 5 o'clock |
Das Auto fuhr gegen einen Baum.
The car drove into a tree.
gegen einen Baumgegen + accusative (meaning "into"): ein Baum → einen Baum.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Das Auto | the car |
| fuhr | drove |
| gegen | into/against |
| einen Baum | a tree (accusative) |
Ich trinke Kaffee ohne Zucker.
I drink coffee without sugar.
ohne Zuckerohne + accusative: Zucker (m.) but no article here = no visible change.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ich | I |
| trinke | drink |
| Kaffee | coffee |
| ohne | without |
| Zucker | sugar |
Er geht ohne seinen Bruder.
He goes without his brother.
ohne seinen Bruderohne + accusative: sein → seinen (masculine).
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Er | he |
| geht | goes |
| ohne | without |
| seinen Bruder | his brother (accusative) |
Ohne meine Freunde macht es keinen Spaß.
Without my friends it's no fun.
ohne meine Freundeohne + accusative: meine Freunde stays meine (plural = no change).
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ohne | without |
| meine Freunde | my friends (acc., plural) |
| macht es | it makes |
| keinen Spaß | no fun |
Practice Exercises
15 interactive exercises
Das ist für ___ Mann.
That is for ___ man.
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Common questions about accusative prepositions in German
Which German prepositions always take the accusative?
Five of them: für (for), um (around, at), durch (through), gegen (against) and ohne (without). Many learners memorise them with the mnemonic FUGDO — für, um, gegen, durch, ohne. They are absolutely reliable — there is no context in which these five switch to another case, which makes them one of the easiest rules in German.
What changes after für, um, durch, gegen and ohne?
Only masculine articles visibly change, because only they have a separate accusative form. Der becomes den, ein becomes einen, kein becomes keinen and mein becomes meinen: für den Vater, ohne einen Bruder, durch meinen Garten. Feminine, neuter and plural articles are identical to their nominative forms, so für die Frau and für das Kind need no change.
Why is it für meinen Vater and not für mein Vater?
Because für always triggers the accusative and Vater is masculine, so the possessive mein must take the masculine accusative ending -en. Possessives follow exactly the same pattern as ein, so ein becomes einen and mein becomes meinen. With a feminine noun nothing changes: für meine Mutter is correct as it stands.
Does um always mean around in German?
No, it has two everyday uses. With places it means around: Die Kinder laufen um den Tisch. With clock times it means at: Wir treffen uns um acht Uhr. In the time expression there is no visible article, so the accusative rule is invisible, but it still applies whenever a noun with an article follows.
How do I remember which case a German preposition takes?
Learn the preposition and its case as one unit, the same way you learn a noun with its article. Say für den, ohne den, durch den aloud until the accusative feels automatic. Because these five never vary, the habit transfers directly, and later you only have to learn the dative and two-way prepositions as separate groups.