Two-Way Prepositions: Basics (in, auf, an …)
Some German prepositions can't decide which case they want — and that's actually good news. Two-way prepositions like in, auf, and an take the accusative when there is movement toward a place, and the dative when something simply stays in a place. One small rule, two cases covered.
You will use these prepositions constantly: going to the cinema, sitting at the table, putting a book on the shelf. Master the simple question pair wohin? (where to?) vs. wo? (where?) and you'll pick the right case automatically.
What are two-way prepositions?
Nine German prepositions can take either the accusative or the dative case. They all describe position or direction in space:
| Preposition | Meaning |
|---|---|
| in | in, into |
| auf | on (top of), onto |
| an | on (a side/vertical surface), at |
| über | above, over |
| unter | under |
| vor | in front of |
| hinter | behind |
| neben | next to |
| zwischen | between |
At A1 level, focus on the three most frequent ones: in, auf, and an. The case rule is the same for all nine.
Wo? vs. Wohin? — the key question
Ask yourself one question about the verb:
| Question | Situation | Case | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wohin? (where to?) | Movement toward a place | Accusative | Ich gehe in die Küche. |
| Wo? (where?) | Location, no change of place | Dative | Ich bin in der Küche. |
Verbs of movement toward a goal (gehen, fahren, legen, stellen, hängen) usually signal accusative. Verbs of position (sein, bleiben, liegen, stehen, sitzen, wohnen) signal dative. Compare:
- Ich lege das Buch auf den Tisch. (action: onto the table → accusative)
- Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch. (state: on the table → dative)
Article forms and common contractions
Here is how the definite article changes after a two-way preposition:
| Gender | Accusative (wohin?) | Dative (wo?) |
|---|---|---|
| masculine (der) | in den Park | in dem Park |
| feminine (die) | in die Schule | in der Schule |
| neuter (das) | in das Kino | in dem Kino |
| plural (die) | in die Häuser | in den Häusern |
German loves contractions with these prepositions — use them, they sound natural:
| Long form | Contraction | Example |
|---|---|---|
| in das | ins | Wir gehen ins Kino. |
| in dem | im | Ich bin im Kino. |
| an das | ans | Wir fahren ans Meer. |
| an dem | am | Wir sind am Bahnhof. |
📖 Examples
Ich bin in der Küche.
I am in the kitchen.
Ich gehe in die Küche.
I am going into the kitchen.
Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch.
The book is lying on the table.
Ich lege das Buch auf den Tisch.
I put the book on the table.
Das Bild hängt an der Wand.
The picture is hanging on the wall.
Wir sind am Bahnhof.
We are at the train station.
Die Kinder gehen ins Kino.
The children are going to the cinema.
Die Katze sitzt unter dem Stuhl.
The cat is sitting under the chair.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
Ich bin in die Schule.Ich bin in der Schule.
With 'sein' (to be) there is no movement — you are answering 'wo?', so the dative is needed: in der Schule.
Ich gehe in dem Park.Ich gehe in den Park.
'Gehen' here means moving toward a goal — the question is 'wohin?', so use the accusative: in den Park. ('Ich gehe im Park spazieren' is possible, but only when you walk around inside the park.)
Das Poster hängt auf der Wand.Das Poster hängt an der Wand.
English says 'on the wall', but German uses 'an' for vertical surfaces (walls, doors, windows). 'Auf' is for horizontal surfaces like tables and floors.
Wir sind in der Party.Wir sind auf der Party.
For events like parties and concerts, German uses 'auf' (auf der Party, auf dem Konzert), not 'in' — even though English says 'at the party'.
✏️ Exercises
Test your understanding. Click an option or type your answer, then check.
Heute Abend gehen wir ___ Kino.
Das Buch liegt ___ Tisch.
Das Bild hängt ___ Wand.
Wir fahren morgen ___ Stadt.
"Wo bist du?" — "Ich bin ___ Supermarkt."
Sie stellt die Flasche ___ Kühlschrank.
Die Katze schläft auf ___ Sofa. (das)
Ich gehe jetzt in ___ Schule. (die)
Das Auto steht vor ___ Haus. (das)
Er hängt das Poster an ___ Wand. (die)