A1 Grammar · Unit 8 · Topic 17 of 30
About 3 minutes · tables, common mistakes and practice with answers
In short
Wo (where are you) uses the dative. Wohin (where to) uses zu, nach, or in with the accusative.
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The same preposition can take two cases. If something is already in a place and not moving, ask Wo? and use the Dativ. If it's moving to that place, ask Wohin? and use the Akkusativ.
हिंदी में समझें
एक ही preposition दो case ले सकता है। चीज़ पहले से वहाँ रखी है और हिल नहीं रही, तो सवाल Wo? और Dativ। चीज़ वहाँ ले जाई या रखी जा रही है, तो सवाल Wohin? और Akkusativ।
Master German prepositions of place and German location expressions. Wo (where are you) uses the dative: in, an, auf, bei, hinter, neben, über, unter, vor, zwischen.
Wohin (where to) uses different prepositions. Use zu + dative for people and places (zum Arzt, zur Bank). Use nach for cities, countries, and "nach Hause." Use in + accusative for rooms and buildings (ins Kino, in die Schweiz).
German dative articles for location: der → dem, das → dem, die → der, plural den. German dative contractions: in + dem = im, an + dem = am, bei + dem = beim, zu + dem = zum, zu + der = zur, in + das = ins.
With people: bei (where you are) and zu (where you're going): bei der Freundin, zur Freundin.
| Wo? (dative) | Wohin? |
|---|---|
| im Kino | ins Kino |
| beim Arzt | zum Arzt |
| bei der Bank | zur Bank |
| in Berlin | nach Berlin |
| zu Hause | nach Hause |
Krishna ist beim Arzt. Er geht zum Arzt.·Ich wohne in der Nähe vom Bahnhof.·Das Handy liegt neben dem Buch.·Wir fahren nach Hamburg.
"Ich gehe im Kino" is wrong. It's ins Kino. Wo is static (dative), wohin is movement (zu/nach/in + accusative).
Memory trick
Wo = at rest (dative). Wohin = moving (zu/nach/in + accusative).
Practice
Fill in the blank.
Answers: beim, zum, nach, auf dem.
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