Deutsch · A2 · grammar · 4 minutes
Two-way prepositions
Choose accusative for a destination change and dative for a location.
Understand the choice
The choice is not simply movement versus stillness; it is destination/change of position versus location. A person can move within a park and still answer wo? with dative.
Core rule: An, auf, hinter, in, neben, über, unter, vor, and zwischen take accusative for directed placement and dative for location.
Notice it in context
Ich stelle die Tasche auf den Stuhl; jetzt steht sie auf dem Stuhl.
I put the bag onto the chair; now it is on the chair.
Auf den Stuhl is the placement destination; auf dem Stuhl is the resulting location.
Die Kinder laufen im Park.
The children run in the park.
Their running occurs within the location, so im is dative.
Die Kinder laufen in den Park.
The children run into the park.
In den marks crossing into the park as destination.
What to remember
- Wo? usually selects dative; wohin? usually selects accusative for these nine prepositions.
- Verbs stellen/legen often imply placement; stehen/liegen describe position.
Common trap: Do not choose accusative merely because the verb describes physical motion.