SUF: Accusative Prepositions

Accusative Prepositions

Up to now, we've been using the accusative case only for direct objects. There is another part of speech that requires the accusative case in German: accusative prepositions. Listen to and practice the forms below.

• durch = through
• für = for
• gegen = against (with time: 'about')
• ohne = without
• um = around (with time: 'at')

When you use any of these prepositions, you need to put the noun or pronoun following them into the accusative case. For example:

• Ich kaufe ein Buch für meinen Vater.
  • I'm buying a book for my father.
• Wir gehen ohne dich.
  • We're going without you.
• Ich laufe durch das Haus.
  • I'm running through the house.

In casual German, you may see contractions when using prepositions with 'das':

• fürs = für das
• durchs = durch das
• ums = um das

These are common but very informal, so we'd prefer that you write out the full 'für das' in your work.

Practice Activity

Activity 1

Activity 2

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