Prepositions: Dativ

The 7 prepositions that always take Dativ — "immer mit dem Dativ, du!"

The 7 Dativ Prepositions

These 7 prepositions ALWAYS take Dativ -- no exceptions, no tricks, no "sometimes Akkusativ." If you see one of these words, the noun after it is always in Dativ. Learn this rhyme and never forget them:

"Aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, zu -- immer mit dem Dativ, du!"

Quick reminder of how articles change in Dativ:
der (maskulin) → dem
die (feminin) → der
das (neutrum) → dem
die (plural) → den + the noun adds -n (if it doesn't already end in -n or -s)

Similarly: ein → einem (m/n), eine → einer (f), mein → meinem (m/n), meine → meiner (f).

aus -- from, out of

aus means "from" when talking about origin (country, city, place) and "out of" when talking about leaving or coming out of a place or container. It can also mean "made of" (material). There are no contractions with aus.

Ich komme aus der Schweiz.

I come from Switzerland.

die Schweiz (feminin) = Switzerland · kommen = to come. "Der" because Schweiz is feminin and "aus" always takes Dativ: die → der.

Er kommt aus dem Haus.

He comes out of the house.

das Haus (neutrum) = house · kommen = to come. "Dem" because Haus is neutrum and "aus" always takes Dativ: das → dem.

Sie trinkt aus der Tasse.

She drinks out of the cup.

die Tasse (feminin) = cup · trinken = to drink. "Der" because Tasse is feminin: die → der in Dativ.

Der Tisch ist aus Holz.

The table is made of wood.

das Holz (neutrum) = wood · der Tisch (maskulin) = table. No article needed here -- materials without articles are common with "aus."

Wir kommen aus dem Iran.

We come from Iran.

der Iran (maskulin) = Iran · kommen = to come. "Dem" because Iran is maskulin and "aus" takes Dativ: der → dem. Note: some countries have articles (der Iran, die Schweiz, die USA).

bei -- at (someone's place / a company), during

bei means "at" in the sense of being at someone's home, at a company, or near a place. It can also mean "during" (beim Essen = during the meal).

Contraction: bei + dem = beim (very common, almost always used instead of "bei dem").

Ich wohne bei meinen Eltern.

I live at my parents' place.

die Eltern (plural) = parents · wohnen = to live/reside. "Meinen" because Eltern is plural and "bei" takes Dativ: meine → meinen. The noun adds -n but "Eltern" already ends in -n.

Er arbeitet bei einer Firma.

He works at a company.

die Firma (feminin) = company · arbeiten = to work. "Einer" because Firma is feminin and "bei" takes Dativ: eine → einer.

Sie arbeitet bei Siemens.

She works at Siemens.

arbeiten = to work. Company names usually have no article, so no Dativ change is visible -- but "bei" still requires Dativ.

Wir reden beim Essen.

We talk during the meal.

das Essen (neutrum) = meal/food · reden = to talk. "Beim" is the contraction of bei + dem. Essen is neutrum: das → dem → beim.

Ich bin beim Arzt.

I am at the doctor's.

der Arzt (maskulin) = doctor. "Beim" = bei + dem. Arzt is maskulin: der → dem → beim.

mit -- with, by (transport)

mit means "with" (accompanying someone or adding something) and "by" when talking about transportation. It is one of the most common prepositions in German. There are no contractions with mit.

Ich fahre mit dem Bus.

I go by bus.

der Bus (maskulin) = bus · fahren = to drive/go. "Dem" because Bus is maskulin and "mit" always takes Dativ: der → dem.

Sie geht mit ihrer Freundin spazieren.

She goes for a walk with her (female) friend.

die Freundin (feminin) = female friend · spazieren gehen = to go for a walk. "Ihrer" because Freundin is feminin: ihre → ihrer in Dativ.

Ich trinke Kaffee mit Milch.

I drink coffee with milk.

die Milch (feminin) = milk · trinken = to drink. No article here, but "mit" still requires Dativ.

Wir fahren mit der Straßenbahn.

We go by tram.

die Straßenbahn (feminin) = tram/streetcar · fahren = to go/drive. "Der" because Straßenbahn is feminin: die → der in Dativ.

Er spielt mit den Kindern.

He plays with the children.

das Kind (neutrum) = child · die Kinder (plural) = children · spielen = to play. "Den" because it's plural in Dativ: die → den, and the noun adds -n: Kinder → Kindern.

nach -- after, to (cities/countries)

nach has two main meanings: "after" (in time) and "to" (for cities and countries without articles). For countries with articles (die Schweiz, der Iran, die USA), use in + Akkusativ instead. There are no contractions with nach.

Special phrase: nach Hause = (going) home / homeward.

Wir gehen nach dem Essen spazieren.

We go for a walk after the meal.

das Essen (neutrum) = meal · spazieren gehen = to go for a walk. "Dem" because Essen is neutrum and "nach" takes Dativ: das → dem.

Ich fliege nach Berlin.

I fly to Berlin.

fliegen = to fly. Cities have no article, so no Dativ change is visible. "Nach" is used for cities and most countries (those without articles).

Sie fährt nach Deutschland.

She drives/goes to Germany.

fahren = to drive/go. Deutschland has no article, so "nach" is used. Compare: "in die Schweiz" (Schweiz has an article, so we use "in," not "nach").

Ich gehe nach Hause.

I go home.

gehen = to go. "Nach Hause" is a fixed expression meaning "homeward / to home." Compare with "zu Hause" = at home (location, not movement).

Nach der Schule mache ich Hausaufgaben.

After school I do homework.

die Schule (feminin) = school · die Hausaufgaben (plural) = homework · machen = to do. "Der" because Schule is feminin: die → der in Dativ.

seit -- since, for (ongoing duration)

seit means "since" (a point in time) or "for" (a duration that is still ongoing). This is different from English "for" with a finished action (that would be a different construction). If the action is still happening now, use seit. There are no contractions with seit.

Important: German uses present tense with "seit" -- not past tense like English! "Ich wohne seit drei Jahren hier" = I have been living here for three years.

Ich lerne seit einem Monat Deutsch.

I have been learning German for one month.

der Monat (maskulin) = month · lernen = to learn. "Einem" because Monat is maskulin: ein → einem in Dativ. Notice German uses present tense ("lerne"), not "have been learning."

Sie wohnt seit einer Woche hier.

She has been living here for one week.

die Woche (feminin) = week · wohnen = to live/reside. "Einer" because Woche is feminin: eine → einer in Dativ.

Er arbeitet seit 2020 bei BMW.

He has been working at BMW since 2020.

arbeiten = to work. Years don't need an article, so no Dativ change is visible -- but "seit" still requires Dativ.

Wir kennen uns seit einem Jahr.

We have known each other for one year.

das Jahr (neutrum) = year · kennen = to know (a person). "Einem" because Jahr is neutrum: ein → einem in Dativ.

Seit gestern habe ich Kopfschmerzen.

Since yesterday I have had a headache.

gestern = yesterday · die Kopfschmerzen (plural) = headache. "Gestern" is an adverb, so no article change. The headache started yesterday and is still happening now.

von -- from, of, by

von means "from" (a person or place), "of" (belonging/possession), or "by" (in passive constructions). In spoken German, "von" is often used instead of the Genitiv case to show possession: "das Buch von meinem Bruder" instead of "das Buch meines Bruders."

Contraction: von + dem = vom (very common, almost always used instead of "von dem").

Das ist ein Geschenk von meiner Schwester.

That is a gift from my sister.

die Schwester (feminin) = sister · das Geschenk (neutrum) = gift. "Meiner" because Schwester is feminin: meine → meiner in Dativ.

Ich komme gerade vom Bahnhof.

I'm just coming from the train station.

der Bahnhof (maskulin) = train station · gerade = just now. "Vom" is the contraction of von + dem. Bahnhof is maskulin: der → dem → vom.

Er ist ein Freund von mir.

He is a friend of mine.

der Freund (maskulin) = friend · mir = me (Dativ pronoun). "Von mir" = of mine. This is how spoken German often shows possession.

Die Kinder kommen von der Schule.

The children come from school.

die Schule (feminin) = school · kommen = to come. "Der" because Schule is feminin: die → der in Dativ.

Das ist die Tasche vom Chef.

That is the boss's bag.

der Chef (maskulin) = boss · die Tasche (feminin) = bag. "Vom" = von + dem. Chef is maskulin: der → dem → vom. This replaces the Genitiv "des Chefs" in everyday speech.

zu -- to (a person/place), for (purpose)

zu means "to" (going to a person, a place, an event) and "for" (purpose, occasion). Use "zu" for going to specific people or places (not cities/countries -- use "nach" for those).

Contractions: zu + dem = zum (maskulin/neutrum) and zu + der = zur (feminin). These are used almost always -- saying "zu dem" or "zu der" sounds unnatural.

Special phrase: zu Hause = at home (location). Compare with "nach Hause" = going home (movement).

Ich gehe zum Arzt.

I go to the doctor.

der Arzt (maskulin) = doctor · gehen = to go. "Zum" is the contraction of zu + dem. Arzt is maskulin: der → dem → zum.

Die Kinder gehen zur Schule.

The children go to school.

die Schule (feminin) = school. "Zur" is the contraction of zu + der. Schule is feminin: die → der → zur.

Ich bin zu Hause.

I am at home.

das Haus (neutrum) = house. "Zu Hause" is a fixed expression meaning "at home" (you are there). Do not confuse with "nach Hause" (you are going there).

Was schenkst du ihr zum Geburtstag?

What are you giving her for her birthday?

der Geburtstag (maskulin) = birthday · schenken = to give (as a gift). "Zum" = zu + dem. Geburtstag is maskulin: der → dem → zum.

Wir gehen zum Supermarkt.

We go to the supermarket.

der Supermarkt (maskulin) = supermarket · gehen = to go. "Zum" = zu + dem. Supermarkt is maskulin: der → dem → zum.

Quick Reference

The 7 Dativ prepositions: aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, zu.

The rhyme: "Aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, zu -- immer mit dem Dativ, du!"

Dativ article changes:
• Maskulin: der → dem (ein → einem)
• Feminin: die → der (eine → einer)
• Neutrum: das → dem (ein → einem)
• Plural: die → den + noun adds -n

Contractions to memorize:
• bei + dem = beim (beim Arzt, beim Essen)
• von + dem = vom (vom Bahnhof, vom Chef)
• zu + dem = zum (zum Arzt, zum Supermarkt)
• zu + der = zur (zur Schule)