Präpositionen mit Dativ grammar in German

Language: German
Level: A1
Unit: Präpositionen und Konjunktionen
Practice types: 0

What this grammar point covers

In German, some prepositions always require the noun or pronoun that follows to be in the dative case. These are called 'prepositions with dative'.

When to use it

Use these prepositions when you want to talk about things like location, direction, origin, time, or relationships with people, and the noun after the preposition must be in the dative case.

Key forms

mit
bei
nach
zu
von
aus
seit
gegenüber

Examples

Ich gehe mit dem Freund ins Kino.

English: I am going to the cinema with the friend.

Das Buch ist auf dem Tisch bei der Lampe.

English: The book is on the table by the lamp.

Wir fahren nach Hause.

English: We are going home.

Sie wohnt seit einem Jahr in Berlin.

English: She has lived in Berlin for a year.

Der Hund sitzt gegenüber dem Haus.

English: The dog sits opposite the house.

Tips

Always change the article or pronoun after these prepositions to the dative form.
Be careful: some prepositions in German always need dative, even if you are talking about movement.
Do not use the accusative case after these prepositions.

Exceptions and edge cases

‘gegenüber’ usually comes after the noun: dem Haus gegenüber.
‘nach’ is used for cities and countries without an article, e.g., nach Berlin, nach Deutschland.