A2 · Two-way prepositions
an der Wand, an die Wand
an + dative for where, an + accusative for where to
Forman + Dativ (wo?) / an + Akkusativ (wohin?)
Meaning and usage
The preposition an means at or against something vertical or on an edge: an der Wand, am Fenster. It is also used beside water: am Meer, an den Strand. With two-way prepositions, the case shows the answer to a question: if you ask wo? (where is it?), use dative, as in Das Bild hängt an der Wand. If you ask wohin? (where to?), use accusative, as in Er hängt das Bild an die Wand.
The common mistake is using dative after a verb of direction, for example Er hängt das Bild an der Wand when you mean he is putting it there. Remember: the verb sends something somewhere, so accusative. The picture is already there, so dative.
Examples 6
Das Bild hängt an der Wand.
The picture is hanging on the wall.
Er hängt das Bild an die Wand.
He's hanging the picture on the wall.
Der Lehrer schrieb seinen Namen an die Tafel.
The teacher wrote his name on the blackboard.
Ist das da drüben am Fenster dein Chef?
Is that your boss over there by the window?
Um wieviel Uhr geht ihr an den Strand?
What time are you leaving for the beach?
Ich möchte gern mit euch ans Meer fahren.
I'd like to go to the seaside with you.
Test yourself
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1 Sprachbausteine
Ich hänge den Mantel Haken hinter der Tür.
Show answer
Correct answer: an den
Hängen here means putting something somewhere, so the phrase answers wohin? and takes the accusative: der Haken is masculine, so an den Haken.
- Ans: this is an das, but Haken is masculine, so this form cannot appear here.
- An der: dative would fit a location question like wo hängt der Mantel?, not this sentence.
- Am: dative form of an dem, again the wrong case for a direction.
In this topic: Two-way prepositions
- in die Küche / in der Küche destination takes accusative, location takes dative
- auf dem Tisch, auf den Tisch auf + dative for where, auf + accusative for where to
- an der Wand, an die Wand an + dative for where, an + accusative for where to
- über dem Tisch, unter das Bett über and unter for place: over, across, under
- vor dem Haus, hinter dem Haus vor and hinter for in front of and behind
- neben dem Stuhl, zwischen den Bäumen neben and zwischen for place, next to and between
- ans Meer, auf den Markt, in die Stadt choosing in, an or auf for places
- legen / liegen legen lays something down, liegen means to be lying
- stellen / stehen stellen for putting upright, stehen for standing
- sich setzen / sitzen to sit down vs to be sitting
- hängen: hängte / hing hang something vs be hanging
- in einer Woche, in zwei Stunden in + dative for a future point in time
Example sentences from Tatoeba, used under CC BY 2.0 FR. See sources.