Position

KA35

1.	The preposition precedes the word it accompanies

Most prepositions stand before the word they are connected with.

Examples

im Garten

an der Haltestelle

unter dem Bett

auf dem Campingplatz

beim Frisör

2.	The preposition precedes or follows the word it accompanies

Some prepositions can either precede or follow the word they accompany. However, this is only possible when that word is a noun. When accompanying a pronoun, the preposition either only precedes or only follows. As far as adverbs are concerned, the preposition can either precede or follow only with adverbs entlang and gegenüber. None of the prepositions of this group is used with adjectives.

		prepositions
		entgegen	entlang	gegenüber	gemäß	nach	wegen
word that accompanies the preposition	noun	precedes/ follows	precedes/ follows	precedes/ follows	precedes/ follows	precedes/ follows	precedes/ follows
	pronoun	only follows	only follows	only follows	only follows	only follows	only follows
	adverb		only follows	only precedes
	adjective

A few examples :

Examples

gegenüber der Kirche / der Kirche gegenüber

nach meiner Meinung / meiner Meinung nach

gemäß Artikel 1 / seinem Wunsch gemäß

3.	The preposition follows the word it accompanies

Prepositions zufolge, zuliebe and halber follow the word they accompany.

Examples

einem Gerücht zufolge

der Wahrheit zuliebe

der Ordnung halber

4.	The preposition stands on both sides of the word it accompanies.

Prepositions um...willen and von...an (von...ab/aus/auf) stand on both sides of the word they accompany, when this word is a noun. Otherwise, um...willen is only used with pronouns and von...an (von...ab/aus/auf) usually only with adjectives.

Examples

um seiner selbst willen

vom ersten Tag an

von heute an