French & German Comparative Tutorial II : Learn Two Languages Simultaneously
Adjectives: Gender & Number
French: Adjectives have to agree in gender and number with the noun they describe. French generally adds an -e for feminine, -s for masculine plural and -es for feminine plural. However, there are many exceptions to this rule.
|
|
Masculine
|
Feminine
|
Adjective
|
|
Add -e
|
brun
|
brune
|
brown
|
|
|
fatigué
|
fatiguée
|
tired
|
|
If it already ends in -e, add nothing
|
jeune
|
jeune
|
young
|
|
-x changes to -se
|
généreux
|
généreuse
|
generous
|
|
Exceptions:
|
faux
|
fausse
|
false
|
|
|
roux
|
rousse
|
red (hair)
|
|
|
doux
|
douce
|
sweet, soft
|
|
-il, -el, and -eil change to
-ille, -elle, and -eille
|
naturel
|
naturelle
|
natural
|
|
-et changes to -ète
|
inquiet
|
inquiète
|
worried
|
|
Exceptions:
|
muet
|
muette
|
silent
|
|
|
coquet
|
coquette
|
stylish
|
|
-en and -on change to
-enne and -onne
|
Italien
|
Italienne
|
Italian
|
|
-er changes to -ère
|
cher
|
chère
|
dear, expensive
|
|
-f changes to -ve
|
actif
|
active
|
active
|
|
-c changes to -che
|
blanc
|
blanche
|
white
|
|
Exceptions:
|
public
|
publique
|
public
|
|
|
grec
|
grecque
|
Greek
|
|
-g changes to -gue
|
long
|
longue
|
long
|
|
-eur changes to -euse if adjective
is derived from verb
|
menteur
|
menteuse
|
liar
|
|
-eur changes to -rice if adjective
is not same as verb
|
créateur
|
créatrice
|
creator
|
|
-eur changes to -eure with
adjectives of comparison
|
inférieur
|
inférieure
|
inferior
|
|
And a few completely irregular ones:
|
épais
|
épaisse
|
thick
|
|
favori
|
favorite
|
favorite
|
|
frais
|
fraîche
|
fresh, cool
|
Most adjectives are placed after the noun in French. A few adjectives can be used before or after the noun, and the meaning changes accordingly. When used before the noun, they take a figurative meaning; and when used after, they take a literal meaning. The most common adjectives below are placed before the noun. The five words in parentheses (bel, fol, mol, nouvel, and vieil) are used before masculine singular words beginning with a vowel or a silent h.
|
|
Masculine
|
Feminine
|
|
Adjective
|
Singular
|
Plural
|
Singular
|
Plural
|
|
beautiful
|
beau (bel)
|
beaux
|
belle
|
belles
|
|
good
|
bon
|
bons
|
bonne
|
bonnes
|
|
dear
|
cher
|
chers
|
chère
|
chères
|
|
crazy
|
fou (fol)
|
foux
|
folle
|
folles
|
|
nice
|
gentil
|
gentils
|
gentille
|
gentilles
|
|
big
|
grand
|
grands
|
grande
|
grandes
|
|
large
|
gros
|
gros
|
grosse
|
grosses
|
|
young
|
jeune
|
jeunes
|
jeune
|
jeunes
|
|
pretty
|
joli
|
jolis
|
jolie
|
jolies
|
|
long
|
long
|
longs
|
longue
|
longues
|
|
bad
|
mauvais
|
mauvais
|
mauvaise
|
mauvaises
|
|
better, best
|
meilleur
|
meilleurs
|
meilleure
|
meilleures
|
|
soft
|
mou (mol)
|
moux
|
molle
|
molles
|
|
new
|
nouveau (nouvel)
|
nouveaux
|
nouvelle
|
nouvelles
|
|
little
|
petit
|
petits
|
petite
|
petites
|
|
old
|
vieux (vieil)
|
vieux
|
vieille
|
vieilles
|
German: Adjectives in German are placed before the noun, and they add certain endings depending on the case and if an article precedes them or not:
|
Adjectives used after der words (Weak Endings)
|
|
|
the good wine
|
the good milk
|
the good bread
|
the good friends
|
|
|
Masculine
|
Feminine
|
Neuter
|
Plural
|
|
Nom.
|
der gute Wein
|
die gute Milch
|
das gute Brot
|
die guten Freunde
|
|
Acc.
|
den guten Wein
|
die gute Milch
|
das gute Brot
|
die guten Freunde
|
|
Dat.
|
dem guten Wein
|
der guten Milch
|
dem guten Brot
|
den guten Freunden
|
|
Gen.
|
des guten Weines
|
der guten Milch
|
des guten Brotes
|
der guten Freunde
|
|
Adjectives used after ein words (Weak Endings)
|
|
|
no good wine
|
no good milk
|
no good bread
|
no good friends
|
|
|
Masculine
|
Feminine
|
Neuter
|
Plural
|
|
Nom.
|
kein guter Wein
|
keine gute Milch
|
kein gutes Brot
|
keine guten Freunde
|
|
Acc.
|
keinen guten Wein
|
keine gute Milch
|
kein gutes Brot
|
keine guten Freunde
|
|
Dat.
|
keinem guten Wein
|
keiner guten Milch
|
keinem guten Brot
|
keinen guten Freunden
|
|
Gen.
|
keines guten Weines
|
keiner guten Milch
|
keines guten Brotes
|
keiner guten Freunde
|
The only difference between the adjectives used after der words and the adjectives used after ein words is the masculine and neuter nominative, and neuter accusative. The rest of the endings are the same. For adjectives that are not preceded by der or ein words, you must use the strong endings below:
|
Independent Adjectives (Strong Endings)
|
|
|
good wine
|
good milk
|
good bread
|
good friends
|
|
|
Masc.
|
Fem.
|
Neu.
|
Plural
|
|
Nom.
|
guter Wein
|
gute Milch
|
gutes Brot
|
gute Freunde
|
|
Acc.
|
guten Wein
|
gute Milch
|
gutes Brot
|
gute Freunde
|
|
Dat.
|
gutem Wein
|
guter Milch
|
gutem Brot
|
guten Freunden
|
|
Gen.
|
guten Weines
|
guter Milch
|
guten Brotes
|
guter Freunde
|
Notice that these strong endings are very similar to the der word endings, except for the masculine and neuter genitive.
Verbs: Come, Go
|
|
to come - venir & kommen
|
to go - aller & gehen
|
|
|
venir
|
Present
|
Past
|
Future
|
aller
|
Present
|
Past
|
Future
|
|
French
|
je
|
viens
|
venais
|
viendrai
|
|
vais
|
allais
|
irai
|
|
tu
|
viens
|
venais
|
viendras
|
|
vas
|
allais
|
iras
|
|
il/elle
|
vient
|
venait
|
viendra
|
|
va
|
allait
|
ira
|
|
nous
|
venons
|
venions
|
viendrons
|
|
allons
|
allions
|
irons
|
|
vous
|
venez
|
veniez
|
viendrez
|
|
allez
|
alliez
|
irez
|
|
ils/elles
|
viennent
|
venaient
|
viendront
|
|
vont
|
allaient
|
iront
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
kommen
|
Present
|
Past
|
Future
|
gehen
|
Present
|
Past
|
Future
|
|
German
|
ich
|
komme
|
kam
|
werde kommen
|
|
gehe
|
ging
|
werde gehen
|
|
du
|
kommst
|
kamst
|
wirst kommen
|
|
gehst
|
gingst
|
wirst gehen
|
|
er/sie/es
|
kommt
|
kam
|
wird kommen
|
|
geht
|
ging
|
wird gehen
|
|
wir
|
kommen
|
kamen
|
werden kommen
|
|
gehen
|
gingen
|
werden gehen
|
|
ihr
|
kommt
|
kamt
|
werdet kommen
|
|
geht
|
gingt
|
werdet gehen
|
|
sie/Sie
|
kommen
|
kamen
|
werden kommen
|
|
gehen
|
gingen
|
werden gehen
|
Asking Questions
1. Yes/No Questions: In both languages, you can invert the subject and verb to form a yes/no question. However, in French you must insert -t- if the inversion causes two vowels to be together. Additionally in French, you can keep the word order the same as in a statement, and just add est-ce que to the beginning.
Parlez-vous italien ? / Sprechen Sie italienisch? Do you speak Italian?
A-t-elle des frères ? / Hat sie die Brüder? Does she have brothers?
Est-ce que tu es sûr ? / Bist du sicher? Are you sure?
2. Questions with Interrogatives: If a question begins with a interrogative word, you invert the subject and verb in both languages. Also in French, you can add est-ce que after the interrogative and leave the word order the same as in a statement.
Quand partez-vous ? / Wann gehen Sie? When are you going?
Pourquoi est-ce qu'il sourit ? / Warum lächelt er? Why is he smiling?
3. Tag Questions: Even though there several tag questions in English depending on the subject and verb (aren't you, isn't it, can't we, doesn't he, etc.) there is only one in French and in German. In French, you can add n'est-ce pas to the end of the statement and in German, you can add nicht wahr to the end of the statement to turn it into a question.
Elle a raison, n'est-ce pas ? / Sie hat Recht, nicht wahr? She's right, isn't she?
Il fait froid, n'est-ce pas ? / Es ist kalt, nicht wahr? It's cold, isn't it?
Word Order
French: The main difference between English and French is that adjectives generally are placed after the noun they modify instead of before. In general, word order is subject - verb - object unless the object is a pronoun. Then the word order is subject - object pronoun - verb.
une maison jaune. a yellow house. (Noun - Adjective)
Elle fait le lit. She makes the bed. (Subject - Verb - Object)
Elle le fait. She makes it. (Subject - Object Pronoun - Verb)
German: Word order in German can be quite confusing. In general, the order is subject - verb - object. Unlike French, and similar to English, object pronouns do not go before the verb, and adjectives do not go before the noun. The verb is usually in the second position of the sentence, except for yes or no questions. Other elements in the sentence follow the order: time - manner - place. All infinitives and participles go to the very end of the clause.
Sie liebt ihn. She loves him. (Subject - Verb - Object Pronoun)
Ich gehe am Samstag mit dem Flugzeug nach Berlin. I'm going to Berlin on Saturday by plane. (Subject - Verb - Time - Manner - Place)
Am samstag, gehe ich nach Berlin. On Saturday, I'm going to Berlin. (First element - Verb - Subject - Place)
Bist du fertig? Are you ready? (Verb - Subject in yes/no question)
Ich werde nach Hause gehen. I will go home. (Subject - Auxiliary verb - Place - Infinitive)
Negatives
To make a sentence negative in French, you place ne before the conjugated verb and the another negative word after the verb. In German, there are two main negative words: nicht and kein. You place nicht after a conjugated verb or the object of the sentence and before an adjective. Kein is placed before a noun if the positive counterpart has an indefinite article or no article. Kein adds the same endings as other ein words.
|
|
French
|
German
|
|
not
|
ne...pas
|
nicht, kein
|
|
no longer
|
ne...plus
|
nicht mehr
|
|
never
|
ne...jamais
|
nie
|
|
nothing
|
ne...rien
|
nichts
|
|
no, not any
|
ne...aucun(e)
|
kein
|
|
not yet
|
ne... pas encore
|
noch nicht
|
|
nobody
|
ne...personne
|
niemand
|
|
neither...nor
|
ne...ni...ni
|
weder...noch
|
|
nowhere
|
ne...nulle part
|
nirgends
|
Je ne peux pas venir. / Ich kann nicht kommen. I cannot come.
Je ne bois pas de café. / Ich trinke keinen Kaffee. I don't drink any coffee.
Work & School
|
English
|
French
|
German
|
English
|
French
|
German
|
|
accountant
|
le comptable
|
der Buchhalter
|
mason
|
le maçon
|
der Maurer
|
|
actor / actress
|
l'acteur / l'actrice
|
der Schauspieler
|
mechanic
|
le mécanicien
|
der Mechaniker
|
|
architect
|
l'architecte
|
der Architekt
|
model
|
le mannequin
|
der Model
|
|
artist
|
l'artiste
|
der Künstler
|
musician
|
le musicien
|
der Musiker
|
|
author
|
l'écrivain
|
der Schriftsteller
|
nurse
|
l'infirmier
|
die Krankenschwester
|
|
baker
|
le boulanger
|
der Bäcker
|
officer
|
l'officier
|
der Offizier
|
|
bank employee
|
le banquier
|
der Bankangestellter
|
official / civil servant
|
le fonctionnaire
|
der Beamter
|
|
bookseller
|
le libraire
|
der Buchhändler
|
optician
|
l'opticien
|
der Optiker
|
|
businessman
|
le commerçant
|
der Geschäftsmann
|
painter
|
le peintre
|
der Maler
|
|
butcher
|
le boucher
|
der Fleischer / Metzger
|
pharmacist
|
le chimiste
|
der Apotheker
|
|
computer programmar
|
le programmeur
|
der Programmierer
|
photographer
|
le photographe
|
der Fotograf
|
|
cook
|
le cuisinier
|
der Koch
|
plumber
|
le plombier
|
der Klempner
|
|
customer
|
le client
|
der Kunde
|
policeman
|
le policier
|
der Polizist
|
|
dentist
|
le dentiste
|
der Zahnarzt
|
politician
|
le politique
|
der Politiker
|
|
doctor
|
le médecin / le docteur
|
der Arzt / Doktor
|
postman
|
le facteur
|
der Breifträger
|
|
electrician
|
l'électricien
|
der Elektriker
|
priest
|
le curé
|
der Priester
|
|
employee
|
l'employé
|
der Angestellter
|
publisher
|
l'éditeur
|
der Verleger
|
|
engineer
|
l'ingénieur
|
der Ingenieur
|
salesman
|
le vendeur
|
der Verkäufer
|
|
farmer
|
le fermier
|
der Landwirt
|
scientist
|
le scientifique
|
der Wissenschaftler
|
|
firefighter
|
le pompier
|
der Feuerwehrmann
|
secretary
|
le secretaire
|
der Sekretär
|
|
fisherman
|
le pêcheur
|
der Fischer
|
shoemaker
|
le cordonnier
|
der Schuhmacher
|
|
gardener
|
le jardinier
|
der Gärtner
|
singer
|
le chanteur
|
der Sänger
|
|
grocer
|
l'épicier
|
der Lebensmittelhändler
|
soldier
|
le soldat
|
der Soldat
|
|
hair stylist
|
le coiffeur
|
der Friseur
|
student
|
l'étudiant
|
der Student
|
|
jeweler
|
le bijoutier
|
der Juwelier
|
surgeon
|
le chirurgien
|
der Chirurg
|
|
journalist
|
le journaliste
|
der Journalist
|
tailor
|
la tailleur
|
der Schneider
|
|
judge
|
le juge
|
der Richter
|
teacher / professor
|
le professeur
|
der Lehrer
|
|
lawyer
|
l'avocat
|
der Rechtsanwalt
|
waiter / server
|
le serveur / la serveuse
|
der Kellner
|
|
librarian
|
le bibliothécaire
|
der Bibliothekar
|
worker (blue-collar)
|
l'ouvrier
|
der Arbeiter
|
Countries & Nationalities
|
English
|
French
|
German
|
English
|
French
|
German
|
|
Africa
|
l'Afrique (f)
|
Afrika
|
Ireland
|
l'Irlande (f)
|
Irland
|
|
African
|
africain/e
|
Afrikaner/in
|
Irishman
|
irlandais/e
|
Ire/Irin
|
|
Albania
|
l'Albanie
|
Albanien
|
Israel
|
l'Israël
|
Israel
|
|
Albanian
|
albanais/e
|
Albaner/in
|
Israeli
|
israélien
|
Israeli
|
|
America
|
l'Amérique (f)
|
Amerika
|
Italy
|
l'Italie (f)
|
Italien
|
|
American
|
américain/e
|
Amerikaner/in
|
Italian
|
italien/ne
|
Italiener/in
|
|
Argentina
|
l'Argentine (f)
|
Argentinien
|
Japan
|
le Japon
|
Japan
|
|
Argentine
|
argentin/e
|
Argentinier/in
|
Japanese
|
japonais/e
|
Japaner/in
|
|
Asia
|
l'Asie (f)
|
Asien
|
Latvia
|
la Lettonie
|
Lettland
|
|
Asian
|
asiatique
|
Asiat/in
|
Latvian
|
letton/ne
|
Lette/Lettin
|
|
Australia
|
l'Australie (f)
|
Australien
|
Lithuania
|
la Lituanie
|
Litauen
|
|
Australian
|
australien/ne
|
Australier/in
|
Lithuanian
|
lituanien/ne
|
Litauer/in
|
|
Austria
|
l'Autriche (f)
|
Österreich
|
Luxembourg
|
le Luxembourg
|
Luxemburg
|
|
Austrian
|
autrichien/ne
|
Österreicher/in
|
Luxembourger
|
luxembourgeois/e
|
Luxemburger/in
|
|
Belgium
|
la Belgique
|
Belgien
|
Macedonia
|
la Macédoine
|
Mazedonien
|
|
Belgian
|
belge
|
Belgier/in
|
Macedonian
|
macédonien/ne
|
Mazedonier/in
|
|
Bosnia
|
la Bosnie
|
Bosnien
|
Malta
|
la Malte
|
Malta
|
|
Bosnian
|
bosniaque
|
Bosnier/in
|
Maltese
|
maltais/e
|
Malteser/in
|
|
Brazil
|
le Brésil
|
Brasilien
|
Mexico
|
le Mexique
|
Mexiko
|
|
Brazilian
|
brésilien/ne
|
Brasilianer/in
|
Mexican
|
mexicain/e
|
Mexikaner/in
|
|
Bulgaria
|
la Bulgarie
|
Bulgarien
|
Monaco
|
le Monaco
|
Monaco
|
|
Bulgarian
|
bulgare
|
Bulgare/Bulgarin
|
Monegasque
|
monégasque
|
Monegasse/Monegassin
|
|
Canada
|
le Canada
|
Kanada
|
Netherlands
|
Pays Bas
|
die Niederlande
|
|
Canadian
|
canadien/ne
|
Kanadier/in
|
Dutch
|
néerlandais/e
|
Holländer/in
|
|
China
|
la Chine
|
China
|
New Zealand
|
la Nouvelle-Zélande
|
Neuseeland
|
|
Chinese
|
chinois/e
|
Chinese/Chinesin
|
New Zealander
|
néo-zélandais/e
|
Neuseeländer/in
|
|
Croatia
|
la Croatie
|
Kroatien
|
Norway
|
la Norvège
|
Norwegen
|
|
Croatian
|
croate
|
Kroate/Kroatin
|
Norwegian
|
norvégien/ne
|
Norweger/in
|
|
Czech Republic
|
la République Tchèque
|
die Tschechische Republik
|
Poland
|
la Pologne
|
Polen
|
|
Czech
|
tchèque
|
Tscheche/Tschechin
|
Polish
|
polonais/e
|
Pole/Polin
|
|
Cyprus
|
la Chypre
|
Zypern
|
Portugal
|
le Portugal
|
Portugal
|
|
Cypriot
|
chypriote
|
Zypriot/in
|
Portuguese
|
portugais/e
|
Portugiese/Portugiesin
|
|
Denmark
|
le Danemark
|
Dänemark
|
Romania
|
la Roumanie
|
Rumänien
|
|
Danish
|
danois/e
|
Däne/Dänin
|
Romanian
|
roumain/e
|
Rumäne/Rumänin
|
|
Egypt
|
l'Egypte (f)
|
Ägypten
|
Russia
|
la Russie
|
Russland
|
|
Egyptian
|
égyptien/e
|
Ägypter/in
|
Russian
|
russe
|
Russe/Russin
|
|
England
|
l'Angleterre (f)
|
England
|
Scotland
|
l'Ecosse
|
Schottland
|
|
English
|
anglais/e
|
Engländer/in
|
Scottish
|
écossais/e
|
Schotte/Schottin
|
|
Estonia
|
l'Estonie
|
Estland
|
Serbia
|
la Serbie
|
Serbien
|
|
Estonian
|
estonien/ne
|
Este/Estin
|
Serbian
|
serbe
|
Serbe/Serbin
|
|
Europe
|
l'Europe (f)
|
Europa
|
Slovakia
|
la Slovaquie
|
die Slowakei
|
|
European
|
européen/ne
|
Europäer/in
|
Slovak
|
slovaque
|
Slowake/Slowakin
|
|
Finland
|
la Finlande
|
Finnland
|
Slovenia
|
la Slovénie
|
Slowenien
|
|
Finnish
|
finnois/e
|
Finne/Finnin
|
Slovene
|
slovène
|
Slowene/Slowenin
|
|
France
|
la France
|
Frankreich
|
South Africa
|
l'Afrique du sud
|
Südafrika
|
|
French
|
français/e
|
Franzose/Französin
|
South African
|
sudafricain/e
|
Südafrikaner/in
|
|
Germany
|
l'Allemagne (f)
|
Deutschland
|
Spain
|
l'Espagne (f)
|
Spanien
|
|
German
|
allemand/e
|
Deutscher/Deutsche
|
Spanish
|
espagnol/e
|
Spanier/in
|
|
Great Britain
|
la Grande-Bretagne
|
Großbritannien
|
Sweden
|
la Suède
|
Schweden
|
|
British
|
brittanique
|
Brite/Britin
|
Swedish
|
suédois/e
|
Schwede/in
|
|
Greece
|
la Grèce
|
Griechenland
|
Switzerland
|
la Suisse
|
die Schweiz
|
|
Greek
|
grec/grecque
|
Grieche/Griechin
|
Swiss
|
suisse
|
Schweizer/in
|
|
Hungary
|
la Hongrie
|
Ungarn
|
Turkey
|
la Turquie
|
die Türkei
|
|
Hungarian
|
hongrois/e
|
Ungar/in
|
Turk
|
turc/turcque
|
Türke/Türkin
|
|
Iceland
|
l'Islande
|
Island
|
Ukraine
|
l'Ukraine
|
die Ukraine
|
|
Icelandic
|
islandais/e
|
Isländer/Isländerin
|
Ukrainian
|
ukrainien/ne
|
Ukrainer/in
|
|
India
|
l'Inde
|
Indien
|
United Kingdom
|
la Royaume-Uni
|
Vereinigtes Königreich
|
|
Indian
|
indien/ne
|
Inder/in
|
United States
|
les Etats-Unis
|
die Vereinigten Staaten
|
|
Indonesia
|
l'Indonésie (f)
|
Indonesien
|
Wales
|
le Pays-de-Galles
|
Wales
|
|
Indonesian
|
indonésien/ne
|
Indonesier/in
|
Welsh
|
gallois/e
|
Waliser/in
|
Où est-ce que cela se trouve ? / Wo liegt das? Where is it located?
Cela se trouve en Allemagne. / Das liegt in Deutschland. It's in Germany.
Prepositions
French Prepositions & Contractions
|
at / to / in
|
à
|
during
|
pendant
|
|
from / of / about
|
de
|
since / for
|
depuis
|
|
at the house of
|
chez
|
among
|
parmi
|
|
in
|
dans / en
|
between
|
entre
|
|
for
|
pour
|
around
|
autour de
|
|
by / through
|
par
|
against
|
contre
|
|
in front of
|
devant
|
toward
|
vers / envers
|
|
behind
|
derrière
|
through / across
|
à travers
|
|
before
|
avant
|
with
|
avec
|
|
after
|
après
|
without
|
sans
|
|
up
|
en haut
|
inside
|
dedans / à l'intérieur
|
|
down
|
en bas
|
outside
|
dehors / à l'extérieur
|
|
on
|
sur
|
outside of
|
hors de / en dehors de
|
|
over / above
|
au-dessus de
|
because of
|
à cause de
|
|
under / below
|
sous / au-dessous de
|
according to
|
selon / d'après
|
|
across from
|
en face de
|
approximately
|
environ
|
|
near
|
près de
|
in spite of
|
malgré
|
|
far from
|
loin de
|
as for
|
quant à
|
|
Contractions
|
|
à + le = au
|
at / to / in the
|
|
à + les = aux
|
at / to / in the (pl.)
|
|
de + le = du
|
of / from / about the
|
|
de + les = des
|
of / from / about the (pl.)
|
German Prepositions & Contractions
The articles, adjectives and nouns that follow prepositions in German must be put into the correct case.
|
Prepositions that take the Accusative case
|
|
durch
|
through
|
|
gegen
|
against
|
|
um
|
around
|
|
für
|
for
|
|
ohne
|
without
|
|
bis
|
until / to (with time expressions)
|
|
entlang
|
along (entlang is always placed after the noun!)
|
|
Prepositions that take the Dative case
|
|
aus
|
out (of), from (country, town or place)
|
|
mit
|
with, by means of (transportation)
|
|
von
|
from (person, open space, or direction), by
|
|
seit
|
since, for
|
|
bei
|
near, at, at home of or place of business
|
|
nach
|
after, to (cities and countries)
|
|
zu
|
to (mostly people and specifically named buildings)
|
|
gegenüber
|
across from
|
|
außer
|
except for, besides
|
|
Prepositions that take the Genitive case
|
|
während
|
during
|
|
trotz
|
in spite of
|
|
(an)statt
|
instead of
|
|
wegen
|
because of (in informal speech, the dative case is used)
|
|
außerhalb
|
outside of
|
|
innerhalb
|
inside of
|
|
Prepositions that may take Accusative or Dative
|
|
an
|
at, to, on (vertical surfaces, denotes border or limiting area)
|
|
auf
|
onto, on (horizontal surfaces), to (some public buildings)
|
|
hinter
|
behind
|
|
in
|
in, into (building, enclosed space, feminine or plural countries)
|
|
neben
|
beside, next to
|
|
über
|
over, above, across, about
|
|
unter
|
under, below, among, beneath
|
|
vor
|
in front of, before
|
|
zwischen
|
between
|
For the two-way prepositions: The accusative form indicates direction and movement and answers the question where to? The dative form indicates position and location and answers the question where? For example: In die Schule means to school and uses the accusative form because it is a direction. In der Schule means in school and uses the dative form because it is a location. But one exception is zu Hause - at home (dat.) and nach Hause - (to) home (acc.) Ich bin zu Hause is I am at home, and Ich gehe nach Hause is I am going home.
