Two-Way Prepositions
Wechselpräpositionen
German has nine two-way prepositions — in, an, auf, über, unter, vor, hinter, neben and zwischen — that take either accusative or dative. Use accusative for movement toward a new place (wohin?) and dative for a fixed position (wo?): Ich lege das Buch auf den Tisch versus Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch.
Master prepositions that take accusative or dative.
Rules & Explanations
Two-Way Prepositions
Wechselpräpositionen
Now for the tricky ones! Nine German prepositions can take either accusative or dative — and the choice depends on whether there's movement to a new location (accusative) or staying in one location (dative). This is one of the trickiest concepts in German, but once it clicks, it's incredibly logical.
The nine two-way prepositions are: in, an, auf, über, unter, vor, hinter, neben, zwischen. Each can take accusative (movement to) or dative (location at).
English uses different prepositions: 'into' (movement) vs 'in' (location). German uses the same preposition 'in' but changes the case: 'in den Park' (into) vs 'in dem Park' (in/at).
Ich gehe in den Park. (wohin?) vs. Ich bin in dem Park. (wo?)
I go into the park. (where to?) vs. I am in the park. (where?)
These prepositions are used constantly. Getting the case wrong can change meaning or sound very unnatural to German ears.
The Movement vs. Location Rule
Die Bewegung vs. Position Regel
Imagine a gps: 'navigating to' (Wohin? = accusative) vs 'current location' (Wo? = dative). When you're moving to a destination, use accusative. When you've arrived and are stationary, use dative.
- ▸Two-way prepositions follow one simple rule: movement to a new place = accusative. location/position at a place = dative. The question words help: wohin? (where to?) = accusative. wo? (where?) = dative.
- ▸Think of accusative as the 'action' case for these prepositions — something is changing position, going somewhere new. Dative is the 'static' case — something is staying put, already there.
- ▸The same verb can trigger different cases with the same preposition: 'Ich Stelle das Glas auf den Tisch' (I place the glass onto the table — movement/acc) vs. 'Das Glas steht auf dem Tisch' (The glass stands on the table — location/dat).
Germans instinctively feel the difference between motion and rest. 'Ich gehe in den Park' feels dynamic, 'Ich bin im Park' feels static. Build this same feeling through practice.
The Nine Two-Way Prepositions
Die neun Wechselpräpositionen
These nine prepositions can take accusative or dative. Memorize them!
Remember the locations with a house: in it, an the wall, auf the roof, über it, unter it, vor it, hinter it, neben it, zwischen two things.
| Meaning | Acc Example | Acc Meaning | Dat Example | Dat Meaning | Preposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| in, into | Ich gehe in den Park. | I go into the park. | Ich bin im Park. | I am in the park. | in |
| at, on (vertical surface), to | Ich hänge das Bild an die Wand. | I hang the picture on the wall. | Das Bild hängt an der Wand. | The picture hangs on the wall. | an |
| on (horizontal surface), onto | Ich lege das Buch auf den Tisch. | I put the book on the table. | Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch. | The book is on the table. | auf |
| over, above, across | Der Vogel fliegt über den See. | The bird flies over the lake. | Die Lampe hängt über dem Tisch. | The lamp hangs over the table. | über |
| under, below, among | Die Katze kriecht unter das Bett. | The cat crawls under the bed. | Die Katze schläft unter dem Bett. | The cat sleeps under the bed. | unter |
| in front of, before | Ich stelle das Auto vor die Garage. | I park the car in front of the garage. | Das Auto steht vor der Garage. | The car is in front of the garage. | vor |
| behind | Der Hund läuft hinter das Haus. | The dog runs behind the house. | Der Hund ist hinter dem Haus. | The dog is behind the house. | hinter |
| next to, beside | Ich setze mich neben meinen Freund. | I sit down next to my friend. | Ich sitze neben meinem Freund. | I am sitting next to my friend. | neben |
| between | Ich stelle die Vase zwischen die Kerzen. | I put the vase between the candles. | Die Vase steht zwischen den Kerzen. | The vase stands between the candles. | zwischen |
Movement Verbs vs. Position Verbs
Bewegungsverben vs. Positionsverben
German has verb pairs: one for placing something (movement/accusative) and one for being somewhere (location/dative):
LEGEN/stellen/setzen/hängen = someone does something (transitive, + accusative). liegen/stehen/sitzen/hängen = something is somewhere (intransitive, + dative).
| Movement (+ Acc) | Meaning | Position (+ Dat) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| legen | to lay/put flat | liegen | to lie/be lying |
| stellen | to put/stand upright | stehen | to stand/be standing |
| setzen | to set/seat | sitzen | to sit/be sitting |
| hängen (hängte) | to hang (something) | hängen (hing) | to be hanging |
| stecken | to put/stick into | stecken | to be stuck in |
Ich lege das Buch auf den Tisch. (I lay the book onto the table.)
Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch. (The book lies on the table.)
Common Two-Way Preposition Mistakes
Häufige Fehler mit Wechselpräpositionen
These are the most common mistakes with two-way prepositions.
✗Ich gehe in dem Park.
✓Ich gehe in den Park.
gehen = movement. Movement = accusative. in + accusative = in den.
🧠 WOHIN gehe ich? In den Park. Going = moving = accusative!
✗Das Buch liegt auf den Tisch.
✓Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch.
liegen = position/location. Location = dative. auf + dative = auf dem.
🧠 WO liegt es? Auf dem Tisch. Lying = position = dative!
✗Ich setze mich neben meinem Freund.
✓Ich setze mich neben meinen Freund.
sich setzen = movement (sitting down). Movement = accusative.
🧠 Setzen = changing position = accusative. Sitzen = already seated = dative.
✗Confusing an (vertical) and auf (horizontal)
✓an die Wand (on the wall), auf den Tisch (on the table)
an is for vertical surfaces (walls). auf is for horizontal surfaces (tables, floors).
🧠 Hanging on wall = an. Lying on table = auf.
✗Using movement case with stehen/liegen/sitzen
✓Position verbs always use dative
stehen, liegen, sitzen describe where something is, not movement. Always dative.
🧠 Liegen/Stehen/Sitzen = being still = wo? = dative. Always!
The Two-Way Decision
Die Wechselpräposition-Entscheidung
| Question | Meaning | Case | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| WOHIN? | Where to? (direction) | ACCUSATIVE | Ich gehe in den Park. |
| WO? | Where? (location) | DATIVE | Ich bin in dem Park. |
WOHIN = Accusative (movement to). wo = Dative (location at). This is the core rule!
WOHIN → wo = dropping the hin = dropping the movement = accusative → dative
Common Contractions
Häufige Verschmelzungen
| Preposition + Article | Contraction | Example |
|---|---|---|
| in + dem | im | Ich bin im Haus. |
| in + das | ins | Ich gehe ins Haus. |
| an + dem | am | Ich stehe am Fenster. |
| an + das | ans | Ich gehe ans Fenster. |
| auf + das | aufs | Ich lege es aufs Bett. |
im = in + dem (dative). ins = in + das (accusative). The contraction tells you the case!
im = dative (location). ins = accusative (motion). Same pattern: am/ans, aufs.
Verbs That Signal Accusative (Motion)
Verben, die Akkusativ signalisieren (Bewegung)
These verbs typically signal movement and trigger accusative with two-way prepositions: gehen (go), fahren (drive), fliegen (fly), laufen (run), kommen (come), legen (lay), stellen (put upright), setzen (set), hängen (hang something). They answer wohin?
Diese Verben signalisieren typisch Bewegung und lösen Akkusativ aus.
Movement verbs (gehen, fahren, legen, stellen) = accusative with two-way prepositions.
GOING somewhere, putting something somewhere = movement = accusative.
Verbs That Signal Dative (Location)
Verben, die Dativ signalisieren (Position)
These verbs signal position/location and trigger dative: sein (be), bleiben (stay), liegen (lie), stehen (stand), sitzen (sit), hängen (be hanging), wohnen (live), arbeiten (work), schlafen (sleep). They answer wo?
Diese Verben signalisieren position und lösen Dativ aus.
Position verbs (sein, liegen, stehen, sitzen) = dative with two-way prepositions.
BEING somewhere, lying/standing/sitting somewhere = position = dative.
Dialogue: Cleaning the Room
Dialog: Das Zimmer aufräumen
Mutter
Wo ist dein Buch?
Where is your book?
WO = asking for location
Kind
Es liegt unter dem Bett.
It's lying under the bed.
liegen + unter dem Bett (dative = location)
Mutter
Leg es bitte auf den Schreibtisch.
Please put it on the desk.
legen + auf den Schreibtisch (accusative = movement)
Kind
Okay. Und wohin kommt die Jacke?
Okay. And where does the jacket go?
WOHIN = asking for direction/destination
Mutter
Häng sie in den Schrank.
Hang it in the closet.
hängen + in den Schrank (accusative = movement into)
Kind
Jetzt hängt sie im Schrank!
Now it's hanging in the closet!
hängen + im Schrank (dative = now it's there)
A parent helping a child clean their room
Ein Elternteil hilft einem Kind beim Aufräumen
Notice the pattern: legen/hängen (putting something) + accusative (in den, auf den) vs. liegen/hängen (being somewhere) + dative (unter dem, im). The same preposition changes case based on movement vs. location!
Quick Reference: Two-Way Prepositions
Kurzübersicht: Wechselpräpositionen
- ▸Nine prepositions: in, an, auf, über, unter, vor, hinter, neben, zwischen
- ▸Movement to = accusative (gehen, legen, stellen) → Ich gehe in den Park
- ▸Location at = dative (sein, liegen, stehen) → Ich bin in dem Park
WOHIN? (where to?) = accusative | wo? (where?) = dative
Practice with verb pairs (legen/liegen, stellen/stehen) to solidify the movement vs. location distinction.
- ▸Ich gehe in dem Park ❌ → in den Park ✓ (going = movement = acc)
- ▸Das Buch liegt auf den Tisch ❌ → auf dem Tisch ✓ (lying = location = dat)
- ▸Confusing verb pairs: legen/liegen, stellen/stehen, setzen/sitzen
WOHIN = movement = accusative. wo = location = dative. Ask the question, get the answer!
Two-way prepositions take accusative for movement to (wohin?) and dative for location at (wo?) — the same preposition changes case based on motion vs. position.
Examples
Ich gehe in den Park.
I go into the park.
in den Parkgehen = movement. WOHIN? In den Park. Accusative.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ich | I |
| gehe | go (motion verb) |
| in | into |
| den Park | the park (accusative) |
Ich lege das Buch auf den Tisch.
I put the book on(to) the table.
auf den Tischlegen = putting something (movement). Accusative.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ich | I |
| lege | put/lay |
| das Buch | the book |
| auf | onto |
| den Tisch | the table (acc) |
Sie hängt das Bild an die Wand.
She hangs the picture on the wall.
an die Wandhängen (transitive) = hanging something. Movement = accusative.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sie | she |
| hängt | hangs |
| das Bild | the picture |
| an | on |
| die Wand | the wall (acc) |
Der Vogel fliegt über den See.
The bird flies over the lake.
über den Seefliegen über = flying across (movement). Accusative.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Der Vogel | the bird |
| fliegt | flies |
| über | over |
| den See | the lake (accusative) |
Die Katze kriecht unter das Bett.
The cat crawls under the bed.
unter das Bettkriechen = crawling TO somewhere. Movement = accusative.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Die Katze | the cat |
| kriecht | crawls |
| unter | under |
| das Bett | the bed (accusative) |
Ich stelle das Auto vor die Garage.
I park the car in front of the garage.
vor die Garagestellen = putting upright/parking. Movement = accusative.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ich | I |
| stelle | put/park |
| das Auto | the car |
| vor | in front of |
| die Garage | the garage (acc) |
Er setzt sich neben seinen Freund.
He sits down next to his friend.
neben seinen Freundsich setzen = sitting DOWN (movement). Accusative.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Er | he |
| setzt sich | sits down |
| neben | next to |
| seinen Freund | his friend (accusative) |
Ich laufe hinter das Haus.
I run behind the house.
hinter das Hauslaufen = running TO somewhere. Movement = accusative.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ich | I |
| laufe | run |
| hinter | behind |
| das Haus | the house (accusative) |
Ich bin im Park.
I am in the park.
im Parksein = being (location). WO? Im Park. Dative. (im = in dem)
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ich | I |
| bin | am (location verb) |
| im | in the (= in dem) |
| Park | park (dative) |
Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch.
The book is (lying) on the table.
auf dem Tischliegen = lying (position). WO? Auf dem Tisch. Dative.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Das Buch | the book |
| liegt | lies/is lying |
| auf | on |
| dem Tisch | the table (dative) |
Das Bild hängt an der Wand.
The picture hangs on the wall.
an der Wandhängen (intransitive) = being hung. Location = dative.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Das Bild | the picture |
| hängt | hangs |
| an | on |
| der Wand | the wall (dative) |
Die Lampe hängt über dem Tisch.
The lamp hangs over the table.
über dem Tischhängen = hanging (position). WO? Über dem Tisch. Dative.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Die Lampe | the lamp |
| hängt | hangs |
| über | over |
| dem Tisch | the table (dative) |
Die Katze schläft unter dem Bett.
The cat sleeps under the bed.
unter dem Bettschlafen = sleeping AT a location. Dative.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Die Katze | the cat |
| schläft | sleeps |
| unter | under |
| dem Bett | the bed (dative) |
Er sitzt neben seinem Freund.
He is sitting next to his friend.
neben seinem Freundsitzen = sitting (position). WO? Neben seinem Freund. Dative.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Er | he |
| sitzt | sits/is sitting |
| neben | next to |
| seinem Freund | his friend (dative) |
Die Vase steht zwischen den Kerzen.
The vase stands between the candles.
zwischen den Kerzenstehen = standing (position). Dative plural: den + Kerzen.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Die Vase | the vase |
| steht | stands |
| zwischen | between |
| den Kerzen | the candles (dat. pl.) |
Practice Exercises
15 interactive exercises
Ich gehe in ___ Park.
I go into ___ park.
You got on this topic's exercises.
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Common questions about German two-way prepositions
What are the nine two-way prepositions in German?
They are in, an, auf, über, unter, vor, hinter, neben and zwischen. A common memory trick pictures a house: you go IN it, hang something AN the wall, stand AUF the roof, fly ÜBER it, hide UNTER it, park VOR or HINTER it, plant a tree NEBEN it, and squeeze ZWISCHEN two of them.
How do I know whether to use accusative or dative with a two-way preposition?
Ask a question. If wohin? (where to?) fits, something is moving to a new place, so use accusative: Ich gehe in den Park. If wo? (where?) fits, the thing simply is somewhere, so use dative: Ich bin im Park. The verb usually tells you which question applies.
What is the difference between in den Park and im Park?
In den Park is accusative and means into the park — you are crossing the boundary and arriving. Im Park is a contraction of in dem Park, dative, and means inside the park, where you already are. Ich gehe in den Park describes the trip; Ich spiele im Park describes what happens after arrival.
Why does German have verb pairs like legen and liegen?
Each pair splits action from state. Legen, stellen, setzen and hängen mean someone places something and take accusative: Sie hängt das Bild an die Wand. Liegen, stehen, sitzen and hängen mean something already is somewhere and take dative: Das Bild hängt an der Wand. The verb choice and the case always match.
Is movement inside one place accusative or dative?
Dative. What matters is crossing into a new location, not motion itself. Ich laufe im Park uses dative because the running stays inside the park. Ich laufe in den Park uses accusative because the park is the destination you enter. Ask whether the preposition names a destination or the setting.