How do you know which case to use after German prepositions?

There are three possible cases that follow prepositions: accusative, dative or genitive. The following prepositions are followed by the accusative case: bis,durch, fuer, gegen, ohne, um Example- Ich will ohne dich nicht zum Party gehen. The following prepositons are followed by the dative: aus, ausser, bei gegenueber, mit, nach ,seit, von, zu Example- Er ging jeden Tag zu der (zur) Schule. The following prepositons are followed by the gentivie case: anstatt, trotz, waehrend, wegen Example- Trotz des schlechten Wetters ging er draussen. The following verbs take both accusative and dative: an, auf, hinter, in, neben, ueber, unter, vor, zwischen -The prepositions are followed by the accusative case if movement is involved. Example- Er legte den Stift auf den Tisch. -Yet when the phrase does not involve movement the prepositions are followed by the dative case: Example- Der Stift lag auf dem Tisch. 

Answered by Thorkild V. German tutor

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Translate this into German:


Why is it incorrect to say 'in das Haus' for 'in the house'?


Read this text from your friend. At what time are you supposed to meet up? Hallo. Wir treffen uns im Restaurant zum Schwan um halb zwei. Das liegt in der Hauptstraße neben dem Kino und gegenüber der Post. Bis dan


You are writing to your German pen pal about your hobbies. Include topics like: Music, Sport, Shopping, the Internet. Word limit: 40 words.


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