how do you say to in german

German Prepositions Indicating Direction or Destination

The German language utilizes a variety of prepositions to express movement toward a specific location or recipient. The appropriate preposition depends on the specific context and the grammatical case it governs.

Prepositions Governing the Accusative Case (Direction)

  • nach: Used for cities, countries (without articles), and directional references (e.g., nach Hause - homeward).
  • in: Primarily used for enclosed spaces or geographic locations into which movement occurs. Governs the accusative when indicating direction; indicates location with dative.
  • an: Used for vertical surfaces and bodies of water to which movement is directed. Governs the accusative when indicating direction; indicates location with dative.
  • auf: Used for horizontal surfaces or open areas onto which movement occurs. Governs the accusative when indicating direction; indicates location with dative.
  • über: Denotes movement over or across. Governs the accusative when indicating direction; indicates location with dative.
  • unter: Denotes movement under or beneath. Governs the accusative when indicating direction; indicates location with dative.
  • vor: Denotes movement in front of. Governs the accusative when indicating direction; indicates location with dative.
  • hinter: Denotes movement behind. Governs the accusative when indicating direction; indicates location with dative.
  • neben: Denotes movement beside. Governs the accusative when indicating direction; indicates location with dative.
  • zwischen: Denotes movement between. Governs the accusative when indicating direction; indicates location with dative.
  • um: Denotes movement around. Governs the accusative case.
  • durch: Denotes movement through. Governs the accusative case.
  • entlang: Denotes movement along. Typically follows the noun and governs the accusative case.

Prepositions Governing the Dative Case (Recipient or Fixed Location Related to Direction)

While primarily used to express location, some prepositions that govern the dative case can also suggest direction in certain idiomatic expressions or contexts where a static relationship is implied.

Dative vs. Accusative Choice

For prepositions that can govern both the accusative and dative cases (in, an, auf, über, unter, vor, hinter, neben, zwischen), the case is determined by whether the verb expresses motion towards a destination (accusative) or a state of being in a location (dative). Verbs that frequently denote motion include gehen (to go), fahren (to drive), laufen (to run), and stellen (to put, place – if implying direction).

Examples of Usage

  • Ich fahre nach Berlin. (I am driving to Berlin.)
  • Ich gehe in das Haus. (I am going into the house.)
  • Ich gehe an den Strand. (I am going to the beach - to the shore.)
  • Ich lege das Buch auf den Tisch. (I am putting the book onto the table.)