Prepositions: Akkusativ

The 5 prepositions that always take Akkusativ — FODGU.

The 5 Akkusativ Prepositions

These 5 prepositions ALWAYS take Akkusativ -- no exceptions, no thinking required. If you see one of these words, the noun after it is automatically Akkusativ. Memorize the mnemonic: FODGU -- Für, Ohne, Durch, Gegen, Um. And remember the golden rule: in Akkusativ, only maskulin changes (der → den, ein → einen, mein → meinen, kein → keinen). Feminin, neutrum, and plural articles stay exactly the same as Nominativ. So when you see "für die Frau" -- die stays die. When you see "ohne das Kind" -- das stays das. Only maskulin gets the extra -en.

für — for

Für means "for" in almost every sense: for someone (a gift for my mother), for a purpose (for work), for a duration (for two days). It's one of the most common prepositions in daily German. You'll use it when ordering food ("for two people"), thanking someone ("Danke für..."), and talking about who something is intended for.

Das Geschenk ist für meinen Vater.

The gift is for my father.

das Geschenk (neutrum) = gift · der Vater (maskulin) = father. "Meinen" because Vater is maskulin -- after "für" (Akkusativ), mein → meinen. If this were feminin: "für meine Mutter" (no change).

Der Kaffee ist für meine Schwester.

The coffee is for my sister.

der Kaffee (maskulin) = coffee · die Schwester (feminin) = sister. "Meine" stays meine because Schwester is feminin -- only maskulin changes in Akkusativ. Compare with maskulin: "für meinen Bruder" (brother).

Ich brauche ein Zimmer für zwei Personen.

I need a room for two people.

brauchen = to need · das Zimmer (neutrum) = room · die Person (feminin) = person · die Personen (plural) = people. "Für zwei Personen" -- no article change needed with numbers.

Danke für die Hilfe!

Thanks for the help!

die Hilfe (feminin) = help. "Die" stays die because Hilfe is feminin. Very common phrase -- memorize it! If it were maskulin: "Danke für den Tipp" (thanks for the tip).

Das ist nicht für mich, das ist für ihn.

That is not for me, that is for him.

für mich = for me · für ihn = for him. With pronouns after "für," use the Akkusativ pronoun forms: mich, dich, ihn, sie, uns, euch, sie/Sie.

ohne — without

Ohne means "without." You'll use it constantly in daily life: ordering coffee without milk, saying you're going somewhere without someone, or describing that something is missing. A key point: "ohne" is usually used without an article when talking about substances or general concepts (ohne Milch, ohne Zucker). But when you're talking about a specific thing or person, you still need the article -- and it must be Akkusativ.

Einen Kaffee ohne Milch, bitte.

A coffee without milk, please.

der Kaffee (maskulin) = coffee · die Milch (feminin) = milk. "Ohne Milch" -- no article needed here because we mean milk in general. Very useful when ordering at a café!

Ich gehe ohne meinen Freund ins Kino.

I'm going to the cinema without my friend.

gehen = to go · der Freund (maskulin) = friend · das Kino (neutrum) = cinema. "Meinen" because Freund is maskulin -- mein → meinen after "ohne." If feminin: "ohne meine Freundin" (no change).

Ich trinke den Tee ohne Zucker.

I drink the tea without sugar.

trinken = to drink · der Tee (maskulin) = tea · der Zucker (maskulin) = sugar. "Ohne Zucker" -- no article because it's a general substance. When ordering: "Ohne Zucker, bitte!"

Sie geht ohne ihre Tasche aus dem Haus.

She leaves the house without her bag.

die Tasche (feminin) = bag · das Haus (neutrum) = house. "Ihre" stays ihre because Tasche is feminin -- no change. If maskulin: "ohne ihren Rucksack" (without her backpack).

Ich kann ohne das Handy nicht leben.

I can't live without the phone.

können = can · leben = to live · das Handy (neutrum) = mobile phone. "Das" stays das because Handy is neutrum -- only maskulin would change (e.g., "ohne den Computer").

durch — through, by means of

Durch means "through" -- both physically (walking through the park) and figuratively (through hard work, by means of something). You'll use it when giving directions, describing movement through spaces, and talking about how something was achieved. Think of it as movement that goes into and out the other side of something.

Wir gehen durch den Park.

We walk through the park.

gehen = to walk/go · der Park (maskulin) = park. "Den" because Park is maskulin -- der → den after "durch." If it were feminin: "durch die Stadt" (through the city -- die stays die).

Der Zug fährt durch den Tunnel.

The train goes through the tunnel.

der Zug (maskulin) = train · fahren = to drive/travel · fährt = drives (3rd person) · der Tunnel (maskulin) = tunnel. "Den" because Tunnel is maskulin. Notice how "fahren" changes its vowel: a → ä.

Ich laufe durch die Stadt.

I run through the city.

laufen = to run/walk · die Stadt (feminin) = city. "Die" stays die because Stadt is feminin -- only maskulin changes. Compare: "durch den Wald" (through the forest, der Wald = maskulin).

Das Licht kommt durch das Fenster.

The light comes through the window.

das Licht (neutrum) = light · kommen = to come · das Fenster (neutrum) = window. "Das" stays das because Fenster is neutrum -- no change needed.

Wir fahren durch die ganze Schweiz.

We are driving through all of Switzerland.

fahren = to drive · die Schweiz (feminin) = Switzerland · ganz = whole/all. "Die" stays die because Schweiz is feminin. Countries with articles always keep their gender.

gegen — against, around (time)

Gegen has two main meanings: (1) "against" -- opposing something, running into something, or leaning against something; (2) "around" when talking about approximate time ("gegen 8 Uhr" = around 8 o'clock). The time meaning is extremely useful in daily conversation. When using "gegen" with physical objects, it often implies contact or collision.

Das Auto fährt gegen die Wand.

The car drives into the wall.

das Auto (neutrum) = car · fahren = to drive · die Wand (feminin) = wall. "Die" stays die because Wand is feminin. If maskulin: "gegen den Baum" (into the tree).

Wir spielen gegen die andere Mannschaft.

We play against the other team.

spielen = to play · die Mannschaft (feminin) = team · andere = other. "Die" stays die because Mannschaft is feminin. Very useful for talking about sports!

Ich bin gegen den Plan.

I am against the plan.

der Plan (maskulin) = plan. "Den" because Plan is maskulin -- der → den after "gegen." If neutrum: "gegen das Gesetz" (against the law -- das stays das).

Ich komme gegen 8 Uhr.

I'll come around 8 o'clock.

kommen = to come · die Uhr (feminin) = clock/hour. "Gegen" with times means "approximately." Super useful phrase! "Gegen Mittag" = around noon.

Er läuft gegen den Wind.

He runs against the wind.

laufen = to run · läuft = runs (3rd person) · der Wind (maskulin) = wind. "Den" because Wind is maskulin. Notice laufen changes its vowel: au → äu.

um — around, at (time)

Um has two main uses: (1) "around" in a spatial sense -- around a corner, around a table; (2) "at" for exact clock times ("um 8 Uhr" = at 8 o'clock). The time usage is one of the first things you learn in German and you will use it every single day. Don't confuse "um" (at, exact time) with "gegen" (around, approximate time).

Wir sitzen um den Tisch.

We sit around the table.

sitzen = to sit · der Tisch (maskulin) = table. "Den" because Tisch is maskulin -- der → den after "um." If feminin: "um die Ecke" (around the corner -- die stays die).

Der Unterricht beginnt um 9 Uhr.

The class starts at 9 o'clock.

der Unterricht (maskulin) = class/lesson · beginnen = to begin · die Uhr (feminin) = clock/hour. "Um 9 Uhr" = at 9 o'clock. This is the standard way to state exact times in German.

Geh um die Ecke, dann siehst du die Bäckerei.

Go around the corner, then you'll see the bakery.

gehen = to go · die Ecke (feminin) = corner · die Bäckerei (feminin) = bakery · sehen = to see. "Die" stays die because Ecke is feminin. Useful for giving directions!

Die Kinder laufen um das Haus.

The children run around the house.

die Kinder (plural) = children · laufen = to run · das Haus (neutrum) = house. "Das" stays das because Haus is neutrum -- only maskulin changes. Compare: "um den See" (around the lake, der See = maskulin).

Um wie viel Uhr kommst du?

At what time are you coming?

kommen = to come · wie viel = how much/many. "Um wie viel Uhr...?" is the standard question for asking about time. Answer: "Ich komme um 3 Uhr." (I'm coming at 3 o'clock.)

Remember: FODGU = Always Akkusativ

Für, Ohne, Durch, Gegen, Um -- these 5 prepositions always take Akkusativ, no exceptions.
And in Akkusativ, only maskulin changes: der → den, ein → einen, mein → meinen, kein → keinen.
Feminin, neutrum, and plural stay the same as Nominativ.

When in doubt, ask yourself two things:
1. Is the preposition one of these five? → Then use Akkusativ.
2. Is the noun maskulin? → Then add -en to the article. If not maskulin, change nothing.