IB Diploma German B SL · Grammar backbone 6 of 10 — Prepositions and cases
IB German B Grammar
Prepositions and cases
Every German preposition forces a fixed case on the noun after it. Some always take the accusative, some the dative, some the genitive — and the nine two-way prepositions switch between accusative and dative depending on whether there is movement or position.
two-way: motion → Akkusativ · position → Dativin die Schule (wohin?) · in der Schule (wo?)
Work through each screen and answer the questions — some ask you to spot the case, some to build it. Collect ⭐ and press Start.
This grammar backbone powers every IB German B theme: Identities, Experiences, Human ingenuity, Social organization and Sharing the planet — so you can build accurate texts across paper 1, paper 2 and the individual oral.
Accusative preps
Always the accusative
Five common prepositions always take the accusative — learn them as a block (durch, für, gegen, ohne, um):
durch (through), für (for), gegen (against)
ohne (without), um (around / at)
Examples:für den Mann, durch den Park, ohne einen Grund. Only the masculine changes visibly (der → den).
Quick check
After an accusative prep
?Complete: Ich gehe durch ___ Park. ("I walk through the park.") — Park is masculine.
Dative preps
Always the dative
A larger group always takes the dative: aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, zu (plus außer, gegenüber):
aus (out of), bei (at/near), mit (with), nach (after/to)
seit (since/for), von (from/of/by), zu (to)
Contractions to memorise:zu dem → zum, zu der → zur, von dem → vom, bei dem → beim. So "to the doctor" = zum Arzt.
Quick check
After a dative prep
?Complete: Nach ___ Schule gehe ich nach Hause. ("After school I go home.") — Schule is feminine.
Type it
Your turn — accusative prep
1Write the article: Das Geschenk ist für ___ Mann. ("The present is for the man.") — masculine.
Hint: 'für' takes the accusative; masculine der → …
Sort it
Choose the correct article
Type it
Your turn — dative prep
2Write the article: Ich fahre mit ___ Bus. ("I go by bus.") — masculine.
Hint: 'mit' takes the dative; masculine der → …
Two-way preps
Wechselpräpositionen — motion vs position
Nine prepositions switch case. Ask wohin? (movement → accusative) or wo? (position → dative):
The nine: an, auf, hinter, in, neben, über, unter, vor, zwischen.
Ich gehe in die Schule. — movement (wohin?) → accusative.
Ich bin in der Schule. — position (wo?) → dative.
Verb pairs help:legen/stellen/hängen (put) take the accusative; liegen/stehen/hängen (be located) take the dative.
Quick check
Two-way: movement
?Complete: Ich hänge das Bild an ___ Wand. ("I'm hanging the picture on the wall.") — Wand is feminine.
Quick check
Two-way: position
?Complete: Das Bild hängt an ___ Wand. ("The picture hangs on the wall.") — Wand is feminine.
Sort it
Motion or position?
Sort each two-way sentence by the case it needs.
Movement → Akkusativ
Position → Dativ
Type it
Your turn — into the city
3Write the article: Ich gehe in ___ Stadt. ("I'm going into town.") — movement, Stadt feminine.
Hint: movement (wohin?) → accusative; feminine → die.
Type it
Your turn — in the city
4Write the article: Ich wohne in ___ Stadt. ("I live in the city.") — position, Stadt feminine.
Hint: position (wo?) → dative; feminine → der.
Genitive preps
Always the genitive
A group of formal prepositions takes the genitive: während, trotz, wegen, (an)statt (plus innerhalb, außerhalb):
während des Tages — during the day
trotz des Regens — despite the rain
wegen des Wetters — because of the weather
Register: in speech you will often hear wegen + dative, but for IB German B writing use the genitive (wegen des Wetters) — it reads as more formal and accurate.
Quick check
After a genitive prep
?Complete: Während ___ Tages arbeite ich. ("During the day I work.") — Tag is masculine.
Game · Match
Match the preposition to its phrase
Tap a preposition on the left, then a phrase showing the case it governs.
PREPOSITION
für
mit
während
ohne
aus
trotz
PHRASE
trotz des Regens
für den Mann
aus der Stadt
während des Tages
mit dem Bus
ohne einen Plan
Type it
Your turn — a contraction
5Write the contraction: Ich gehe ___ Arzt. ("I'm going to the doctor.") — from zu + dem.
Hint: zu + dem merge into one word.
Recap
Your preposition toolkit
Accusative: durch, für, gegen, ohne, um.
Dative: aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, zu (+ contractions zum, zur, vom, beim).
Two-way: an, auf, hinter, in, neben, über, unter, vor, zwischen — accusative for movement (wohin?), dative for position (wo?).
Genitive: während, trotz, wegen, (an)statt — formal register for essays.
Cluster 7 opens the world of the unreal: Konjunktiv II and conditional sentences. Press Finish.
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Next in the backbone: Konjunktiv II — the conditional and hypotheticals.