0PREPOSITIONS WITH DATIVE
The following prepositions always take a DATIVE article mit, bei, von, aus, nach, zu, seit
mit - expresses the sense of “being together” – opposite of “without“, also expresses a
means to do something or a method.
Example: Ich gehe mit meinem freund in die disco.
Ich esse Brot immer mit Butter.
Er kommt mit seinen vier kindern.
Mit dem Bus brauchen Sie nur zehn Minuten.
Das kann ich nur mit der Brille lessen
bei - often get confuse the preposition “ bei “ with “ mit “ as expressing the sense of “being
together” but “bei “ goes a step forward and expresses it in a “ sense of belonging to
someone or something at a higher level”.
Example: Ich lerne Deutsch bei Herrn Müller
Ich Wohne mit meinem freund bei Familie Meier.
The preposition “bei “is also used to indicate time and a condition.
Beim Essen darf man nicht sprechen.
Bei diesem schönen Wetter machen wir ein Picknik.
| The example above, the preposition “ bei “ is used as “ beim “ . This is a special short form of the preposition made by joining the preposition with the article “bei + dem = beim “. |
aus - The preposition “ aus “ is used to express your native place , your place of origin ,
such as :
Example: Ich komme aus New Delhi.
Er kommt aus Deutschland.
When not used to indicate the native place, the preposition “aus” indicates the place you are coming from in the sense of “out of”, such as.
Example: Er kommt aus dem kino (I can see him coming out of the cinema)
“Aus” can be also used to indicate the origin in time, as:
Das Bild stammt aus dem 14 Jahrhundert (The picture originates from 14th century)
It can also be used to indicate the material from which things are made
Example: Der tisch ist aus Plastik.
“Aus” is sometimes also used to indicate a reason
Von - The preposition“ von” is also used to express the origin or the source and to this extent its usage is similar to that of “ aus “. But “von“ is never used to express your place of origin and is also not used in the sense of “ out of “. “ Von “ rather indicates the place you are coming from.
Example: Ich komme direct vom büro. (I am coming straight from office.)
Wann kommt er von der Schule? (When will he come from the school?)
The preposition “von” is also used if you wish to indicate a person instead of a place , such as :
Example: Ich komme von maria ( I am coming from maria ‘s house).
Er kommt vom Zahnarzt. (He is coming from the dentist)
| In case of “ Haus” the preposition “ von “ is used together with “ zu “ so we say “Ich komme von zu Haus”. (I am coming from home). |
“von” is also used sometimes as “ of “ to indicate a possession .
Ist das das auto von peter ? (is this peter s’ car)
Together with the preposition “bis “, “von “ is also used to indicate a period of time.
Wir haben eine konferez von Montag bis Mittwoch.
von 2 bis 4 Uhr habe ich eine besprechung.
Zu - The preposition “ zu “ is often used in the sense of “ to “
Example: Ich gehe zum büro. (I am going to the office).
“zu “ is also used in the sense of “ to “ in the context of persons.
Example: Gehen sie zum Zahnarzt! (Go to the dentist!)
“ zu “ can also be used to define a target in the case of time.
Example: Zu weihnachten trinken wir kaffee mit Rum.
nach - The preposition “ nach “ can be used to define a destination.
Example: Ich fahre nach Berlin.
| “nach “ is used for names of cities and countries as destinations , only when these do not have an article. If the city or the country name has an article, the preposition “ in “ is used in this context. Example: Ich fahre nach Amerika . But: Example: Ich fahre in die USA. Also, the preposition “zu” is used for destinations that lie within a city Example: das kino , das theater, der Bahnhof, der Flughafen , die Bank , das institut, die schule etc . The preposition “ nach “ is used for destinations that lie outside of the city i.e, other cities and countries ( without article ).
As an exception , “ nach “ is always used for “ Haus “ when we have to say “Iam going home “. The correct way to say this is “ Ich gehe / fahre nach haus”. |
“nach” is also used in case of time:
Nach dem Frühstück trinke ich einen Orangensaft.
Nach dem Unterricht gehen wir ins Kino.
Sometimes, “nach” is also used to express ”according to…….”
Nach den Anweisungen müssen wir… (According to the instructions)
| The Preposition”nach” is also used to tell time (The Preposition”nach” means “past” as in “Viertel nach vier” – quarter past four. |
Seit - The Preposition “ seit “ is used in the case of time to express a duration - more specifically to indicate a time period that started in the past and is continuing till present.
Example: Ich bin seit drei Monaten in Frankfurt
Example: Seit seiner Ankunft in Deutschland wohnt er im Studentenheim.
