How do I use two-way prepositions?

Prepositions affect the case of the noun after them, and two-way prepositions can either put this noun into the dative or the accusative, depending on if there is movement in the sentence or not.
Examples of two-way prepositions are:
in
auf
unter
vor
neben
zwischen
an
Most of the time, these prepositions put the noun into the dative. If movement is involved, however, they put the noun into the accusative.
Here are two examples of similar sentences using the preposition "in", one of which uses the dative and one of which uses the accusative.
Ich gehe in die Schule.
Die Maus wohnt in der Schule.
Here, "I" am going to school, so I am moving because I am travelling to school, whereas the mouse lives there all the time and isn't moving. Therefore, "school" is in the accusative in the sentence involving "me", and it's in the dative in the sentence with the mouse.
Warning! Watch out for the verb "bleiben", which means "to stay" - this verb makes the sentence act as though there is movement, even though this verb means the exact opposite!
 

EN
Answered by Ella N. German tutor

3444 Views

See similar German GCSE tutors

Related German GCSE answers

All answers ▸

How do you form the "Perfekt"?


How Do You Form the Perfect Tense in German?


(For the oral exam part of the GCSE German paper) - What did you do in the school holidays? (Was hast du waehrend der Schulferien gemacht?)


Was machst du gern in deiner Freizeit?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning