Two-Way Prepositions: Dative or Accusative?
What are Two-Way Prepositions?
Two-way prepositions (Wechselpräpositionen) can be used with both the Dative and the Accusative case. The case depends on whether a position (where?) or a direction (where to?) is being expressed.
The nine two-way prepositions are:
an, auf, hinter, in, neben, über, unter, vor, zwischen
The Basic Rule
| Question | Case | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Wo? (Where?) | Dative | Position / Location (static) |
| Wohin? (Where to?) | Accusative | Direction / Movement (dynamic) |
Examples
Dative (Wo? — Position)
- Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch. (The book is lying on the table.)
- Die Kinder spielen in dem (im) Garten. (The children are playing in the garden.)
- Das Bild hängt an der Wand. (The picture is hanging on the wall.)
Accusative (Wohin? — Direction)
- Ich lege das Buch auf den Tisch. (I'm putting the book on the table.)
- Die Kinder gehen in den Garten. (The children are going into the garden.)
- Ich hänge das Bild an die Wand. (I'm hanging the picture on the wall.)
Important Verb Pairs
| Position (Dative) | Direction (Accusative) |
|---|---|
| liegen (to lie/be lying) | legen (to lay/put down) |
| stehen (to stand/be standing) | stellen (to place/put upright) |
| sitzen (to sit/be sitting) | setzen (to set/seat) |
| hängen (to hang/be hanging) | hängen (to hang up) |
Common Mistakes
- Ich gehe in dem Supermarkt. (wrong — direction = Accusative)
- Ich gehe in den Supermarkt. (correct)
- Ich bin in den Supermarkt. (wrong — position = Dative)
- Ich bin in dem (im) Supermarkt. (correct)
Memory Aid
Always ask yourself: Is something moving (where to?) or is it already there (where?)
- Movement → Accusative
- No movement → Dative
Relevance for the TELC B1 Exam
Two-way prepositions appear very frequently in the Language Elements section. Practice the verb pairs and case assignment regularly.
Ready to Practice?
Put what you have learned into action. Our free TELC B1 practice exams simulate the real test with timed sections, instant scoring, and detailed feedback. Start a practice exam now.