Von Spencer Petersen und Kellen Knight

Dative and accusative prepositions are so named because the prepositional phrase that the preposition makes is accusative or dative, respectively. That means that only that part of the sentence is accusative/dative, the rest of it usually being nominative, or a mix of other cases.

Durch = through Ohne = without Gegen = about; around Für = for Um = around; at Remember: DOGFU

The red words are the accusative prepositions. The blue words are the nouns or pronouns affected by the prepositions. Er hatte den Ball durch den Fenseher geschlagen. He hit the ball through the tv. Wir werden ohne dich gehen. We will go without you.

Aus = from; out of Auβer = besides; except Bei = at; near Mit = with Nach = after; to Seit = since Von = from; by Zu = to

The red words are the dative prepositions. The blue words are the words affected by the dative preposition. Er tanzte mit ihr. He danced with her. Alle meine Freunde, auβer ihm, waren hier. All of my friends, except him, were here.

There are prepositions that switch between dative and accusative depending on the situation. When the sentence involves some kind of movement or answering a question beginning with Wohin? (where to?), the preposition uses the accusative case. But when the object being spoken about is not moving, or the movement has already finished, or when answering a question starting withWo? (where?), the dative case is used.

An = at; on; to Auf = on; on top of Hinter = behind In = in Neben = next to Über = over; about; above; across Unter = under; below Vor = before; in front of Zwischen = between

Wir gehen ins (in das) Kino. (accusative) We are going to the theater. Wir sind im (in dem) Kino. (dative) We are in the theater. Sie legte das Buch auf den Tisch. (accusative) She laid the book on the table. Das Buch liegte auf dem Tisch. (dative) The book laid on the table.

Remember, if the sentence has then its accusative. And if the sentence has then its dative.