A2 · Prepositions with a fixed case
aus dem Haus, von der Arbeit
aus and von both mean from, both take dative
Formaus / von + Dativ
Meaning and usage
German has two common prepositions for from, and both always take the dative: aus and von. aus means out of an enclosed space, or that a person or thing comes from a country or town: aus dem Haus, aus der Schweiz, aus Berlin. von means from a person, from an activity or workplace, or from a starting point: von meinem Vater, von der Arbeit, vom Arzt.
Because the case is fixed, the noun after aus or von is always dative, even when the verb would suggest something else. A very common mistake is using the accusative after these prepositions, for example aus den Haus or von den Arbeit instead of aus dem Haus and von der Arbeit. Learn the two lists with their case as one item, and remember the contractions vom = von dem and zum = zu dem.
Examples 5
Ich bin um sieben aus dem Haus gegangen.
I left home at seven.
Ich habe eine Nachricht von einer Freundin bekommen.
I received a message from a friend.
Soll ich dir etwas aus dem Supermarkt mitbringen?
Would you like me to get you something from the supermarket?
Du solltest dich von einem Arzt untersuchen lassen.
You should get checked by a doctor.
Er geht immer um sieben aus dem Haus.
He always leaves home at seven.
Test yourself
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1 Sprachbausteine
Meine Freundin kommt der Schweiz.
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Correct answer: aus
For the country a person comes from, German uses aus with the dative: aus der Schweiz.
- Nach is used for directions and cities with movement, not for origin, and it would need different wording
- Von is used for people, activities and starting points, not for the country someone comes from
- Bei means at a person's place or at a workplace and does not express origin
In this topic: Prepositions with a fixed case
- durch, für, gegen, ohne, um + Akkusativ durch, für, gegen, ohne, um + accusative
- gegen: against, around (time) against, or around a clock time
- die Straße entlang along the street, along the river
- bis morgen, bis zum Bahnhof bis: until, as far as
- aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, zu + Dativ Seven prepositions that always take the dative
- mit dem Bus, mit meiner Schwester with people and tools, by transport, always dative
- aus dem Haus, von der Arbeit aus and von both mean from, both take dative
- nach dem Essen, nach der Arbeit nach + Dativ: after a meal, after work, after school
- gegenüber dem Bahnhof opposite, across from, with the dative
Example sentences from Tatoeba, used under CC BY 2.0 FR. See sources.