Akkusativpräpositionen

Lesson · 4 rules · about 5 min

Learn five little words (durch, für, gegen, ohne, um) and you'll know exactly which article follows them, every time.

1durch – für – gegen – ohne – um
2What actually changes
3Contractions you will hear
4um is also "at" for times

Why this matters

Five prepositions always take the accusative, whatever the sentence: durch (through), für (for), gegen (against), ohne (without), um (around; at a time). After them the article shifts to its accusative form — which, as ever, only shows on the masculine: für den Mann, durch den Park, ohne den Schlüssel; feminine and neuter look unchanged: für die Frau, für das Kind. This is the first time a preposition, rather than a verb, decides the case — a pattern that will grow later in the course (dative prepositions, then the two-way ones). Learn these five as a chant; there are no exceptions. Most items ask for the article; five ask for the preposition itself, from its English meaning.

Memory trick · 1 of 4

durch – für – gegen – ohne – um

Five beats. Say it, clap it, walk to it. These five are always accusative, no exceptions, no thinking.

preposition		+ accusative
durch	⇄	durch den Park
through
für	⇄	für meinen Bruder
for
gegen	⇄	gegen den Baum
against
ohne	⇄	ohne einen Schirm
without
um	⇄	um den See
around

durch den Park, für den Mann, gegen die Wand, ohne das Auto, um den Tisch through the park, for the man, against the wall, without the car, around the table
Der Bus fährt durch das Dorf. The bus drives through the village.

Quick check

Which preposition always takes the accusative?

Rule · 2 of 4

What actually changes

Only the masculine: der → den, ein → einen, mein → meinen. für die Mutter and für das Kind look like the nominative.

Das Geschenk ist für den Vater. Die Blumen sind für die Mutter. The present is for the father. The flowers are for the mother.
Ohne den Schlüssel komme ich nicht rein. Without the key I can't get in.

English 'for the' never changes. In German the preposition reaches over and bends the article.

Quick check

Ich kaufe Blumen für Freund. (der Freund)

Rule · 3 of 4

Contractions you will hear

für das → fürs, durch das → durchs, um das → ums. Casual, common, correct: fürs Kind, ums Haus.

Wir laufen ums Haus. We run around the house.
Das Geschenk ist fürs Kind. The present is for the child.

Quick check

Das Spielzeug ist Baby. (das Baby)

Rule · 4 of 4

um is also "at" for times

um acht Uhr (at eight). Same preposition, no article needed. Don't confuse it with the movement sense: um den See, um den Tisch.

Um sieben Uhr laufen wir um den See. At seven we run around the lake.
Wir sitzen um den Tisch. We sit around the table.

Quick check

Der Film beginnt acht Uhr.

Words · tap to hear

The words you need

Practise these words as flashcards

Listen

Play it, then pick what you heard.

In context

Hear it in a real exchange

Ich kaufe ein Geschenk für meinen Bruder. Wir gehen durch den Park und dann um den See. Ohne den Hund geht er nie spazieren. Gegen sechs Uhr sind wir zurück – hoffentlich ohne Regen!

I'm buying a present for my brother. We walk through the park and then around the lake. He never goes for a walk without the dog. Around six we're back – hopefully without rain!

Spot the mistake

Which one is right?

Spot the mistake

Which one is right?

Spot the mistake

Which one is right?

Cheat sheet

What to take with you

durch – für – gegen – ohne – um
What actually changes
Contractions you will hear
um is also "at" for times

How to remember it

durch–für–gegen–ohne–um: chant it. Always accusative.
The article after them: den for blue words, otherwise unchanged.

The full table · 15 rows

English	Artikel (Akkusativ)	Präposition
The gift is for the man.	den	für
I buy something for the mother.	die	für
That is a gift for the child.	das	für
We walk through the park.	den	durch
She runs through the city.	die	durch
I have nothing against the plan.	den	gegen
Without the car it is hard.	das	ohne
He leaves without the bag.	die	ohne
We sit around the table.	den	um
The car drives into the tree.	den	gegen
The bus drives through the village.	das	durch
The flowers are for the woman.	die	für
We play against the team.	die	gegen
Without the key I cannot get in.	den	ohne
We run around the lake.	den	um

Learn five little words (durch, für, gegen, ohne, um) and you'll know exactly which article follows them, every time.

durch – für – gegen – ohne – um

Which preposition always takes the accusative?

What actually changes

Ich kaufe Blumen für Freund. (der Freund)

Contractions you will hear

Das Spielzeug ist Baby. (das Baby)

um is also "at" for times

Der Film beginnt acht Uhr.

The words you need

Play it, then pick what you heard.

Hear it in a real exchange

Which one is right?

Which one is right?

Which one is right?

What to take with you

More

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