One of the more nuanced aspects of mastering German is understanding how nouns and adjectives interact with prepositions. In German, just like in English, prepositions are words that express relationships between nouns or pronouns and other words in a sentence. However, German prepositions can be tricky because they often determine the case of the noun or pronoun they’re associated with—either nominative, accusative, dative, or genitive.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the most common nouns and adjectives that are used with prepositions in German, provide helpful examples, and give you tips on how to learn and use them correctly. By mastering these, you will sound more fluent and natural in conversations and writing.
1. German Prepositions and Cases
Before diving into specific nouns and adjectives with prepositions, it’s essential to understand that in German, prepositions govern different cases. A preposition can dictate whether the noun or pronoun following it is in the accusative, dative, or even genitive case. Knowing which case a preposition requires is crucial for constructing grammatically correct sentences.
Here’s a brief overview of the most important prepositions and the cases they govern:
Accusative Prepositions: durch (through), für (for), gegen (against), ohne (without), um (around)
Dative Prepositions: aus (out of), bei (at), mit (with), nach (after/to), seit (since), von (from), zu (to) etc.
Two-Way Prepositions: an (on/at), auf (on), hinter (behind), in (in), neben (next to), über (over), unter (under), vor (in front of), zwischen (between)
These can take either the accusative or dative case, depending on whether there's a change in location (accusative) or not (dative).
Understanding these cases and how prepositions affect nouns and adjectives is the foundation of using them correctly in German. However, when it comes to nouns and adjectives with prepositions, and this is crucial, the rule for the two-way prepositions does not apply. So, they have to be learned with the case. The same applies to verbs with prepositions in German.
2. Common German Nouns with Prepositions
Some nouns are commonly used with specific prepositions. These noun-preposition combinations are important to know because they express relationships or ideas that are often used in everyday conversations. Below are some examples:
Nouns with Accusative Prepositions
die Angst vor (fear of)
Example: Sie hat Angst vor Spinnen. (She is afraid of spiders.)
der Antrag auf (application for)
Example: Ich habe einen Antrag auf ein Visum gestellt. (I have submitted an application for a visa.)
die Antwort auf (answer to)
Example: Er hat keine Antwort auf die Frage. (He has no answer to the question.)
der Bericht über (report on/about)
Example: Ich habe den Bericht über das Meeting gelesen. (I read the report about the meeting.)
die Bewerbung um (application for)
Example: Er hat eine Bewerbung um die Stelle geschickt. (He sent an application for the job.)
die Bitte um (request for)
Example: Ich habe eine Bitte um Hilfe. (I have a request for help.)
die Diskussion über (discussion about)
Example: Wir hatten eine Diskussion über Politik. (We had a discussion about politics.)
die Erinnerung an (memory of)
Example: Ich habe eine schöne Erinnerung an meine Kindheit. (I have a beautiful memory of my childhood.)
die Reaktion auf (reaction to)
Example: Die Reaktion auf das neue Gesetz war negativ. (The reaction to the new law was negative.)
der Streit über (argument about)
Example: Sie hatten einen Streit über Geld. (They had an argument about money.)
Nouns with Dative Prepositions
die Angst vor (fear of)
Example: Er hat Angst vor der Prüfung. (He is afraid of the exam.)
der Bedarf an (need for)
Example: Der Bedarf an qualifizierten Lehrern ist hoch. (The need for qualified
teachers is high.)
die Erfahrung mit (experience with)
Example: Ich habe gute Erfahrungen mit diesem Arzt gemacht. (I’ve had good experiences with this doctor.)
die Freude an (joy in)
Example: Sie hat große Freude am Tanzen. (She takes great joy in dancing
der Kontakt zu (contact with)
Example: Hast du Kontakt zu deinen alten Freunden? (Do you have contact with your old friends?).)
der Respekt vor (respect for)
Example: Er hat großen Respekt vor seinem Lehrer. (He has great respect for his teacher.)
die Teilnahme an (participation in)
Example: Ich freue mich auf die Teilnahme am Wettbewerb. (I am looking forward to participating in the competition.)
das Verhältnis zu (relationship with)
Example: Sie hat ein gutes Verhältnis zu ihren Kollegen. (She has a good relationship with her colleagues.)
die Verabredung mit (appointment with)
Example: Ich habe eine Verabredung mit meinem Arzt. (I have an appointment with my doctor.)
der Zweifel an (doubt about)
Example: Er hat Zweifel an der Entscheidung. (He has doubts about the decision.)
3. Common German Adjectives with Prepositions
German adjectives, like nouns, are often associated with specific prepositions. These combinations are essential to know because they allow you to describe more complex ideas, feelings, or relationships.
Here’s a list of some of the most common adjectives with prepositions, along with examples.
Adjectives with Accusative Prepositions
angewiesen auf (dependent on)
Example: Ich bin auf deine Hilfe angewiesen. (I am dependent on your help.)
neugierig auf (curious about)
Example: Ich bin neugierig auf die neuen Ideen. (I’m curious about the new ideas.)
stolz auf (proud of)
Example: Sie ist stolz auf ihre Kinder. (She is proud of her children.)
eifersüchtig auf (jealous of)
Example: Er ist eifersüchtig auf seinen Bruder. (He is jealous of his brother.)
Adjectives with Dative Prepositions
zufrieden mit (satisfied with)
Example: Ich bin zufrieden mit meiner Arbeit. (I am satisfied with my job.)
verheiratet mit (married to)
Example: Sie ist seit fünf Jahren mit ihm verheiratet. (She has been married to him for five years.)
beschäftigt mit (busy with)
Example: Er ist beschäftigt mit dem Projekt. (He is busy with the project.)
freundlich zu (friendly to)
Example: Sie ist immer freundlich zu ihren Kollegen. (She is always friendly to her colleagues.)
bereit zu (ready to)
Example: Ich bin bereit zur Abfahrt. (I am ready to leave.)
enttäuscht von (disappointed by)
Example: Ich bin enttäuscht von dem Ergebnis. (I am disappointed with the result.)
4. How to Learn and Use Nouns and Adjectives with Prepositions
Mastering nouns and adjectives with prepositions requires practice, memorisation, and application in real contexts. Here are some practical tips to help you learn and use them effectively:
4.1 Learn Prepositions with Their Cases
Since prepositions govern cases in German, make sure you always memorise the case that accompanies each preposition. Flashcards are an effective tool for this. For example, for each noun and adjective with a preposition, write down:
der Gedanke an → (accusative)
stolz auf → (accusative)
zufrieden mit → (dative)
4.2 Use Mnemonics
Mnemonics are a great way to remember which preposition goes with which adjective or noun. For instance, for "stolz auf" (proud of), you might visualize someone standing proudly on a platform, where auf means "on."
4.3 Practice in Context
It’s essential to see these noun and adjective-preposition combinations in real sentences to understand how they work in context. Regularly read German texts, newspapers, or articles, and highlight these combinations. Then, try writing your own sentences using the same structures.
4.4 Engage in Conversations
Practice using these combinations in everyday conversations. If you’re learning German, make a conscious effort to use phrases like "Ich bin neugierig auf..." (I am curious about...) or "Hast du Interesse an..." (Are you interested in...?) when speaking with others.
5. Conclusion
Mastering German nouns and adjectives with prepositions is an essential step in becoming fluent in the language. These combinations allow you to express more complex ideas, describe relationships, and discuss abstract concepts with ease. By learning the case each preposition governs, practicing frequently, and applying these combinations in context, you’ll find that your German becomes more fluid and natural over time. Remember to practice regularly, use flashcards, and keep an eye out for these structures in texts. Before long, you’ll be using nouns and adjectives with prepositions like a pro!
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