Case

KA28

 

Prepositions determine the case of the accompanying nouns or pronouns. There are two main categories :

 

1.
One-case prepositions.

 

Most prepositions govern only one case.

 

Examples  
ohne + accusative ohne seine Hilfe
nach + dative nach der Pause
infolge + genitive infolge dichten Nebels

  

This category also includes prepositions that, in everyday language or dialects, can govern two (or even three cases), without any changes in their meaning

 

Examples  
wegen + genitive / (dative) wegen Umbaus / wegen Umbau
ab + dative / (accusative) ab 18 Jahren / ab 18 Jahre
entlang + accusative / dative / genitive den Fluss entlang / entlang dem Fluss / entlang des Flusses

 

 

2.
Two-case prepositions

 
This category includes prepositions that can govern two cases. The change of case changes the meaning of the preposition.

 

Examples   meaning
in + accusative Tu die Milch in den Kühlschrank! direction
dative Die Milch ist im Kühlschrank. state/absence of motion
an + accusative Paul hängt das Bild an die Wand. direction
dative Das Bild hängt an der Wand. state/absence of motion