A2Sentence structure

In, auf, unter: place or direction

Why is it “in die Schule” but “in einem Büro”?

Take a look

Ich stelle das Buch auf den Tisch. (Wohin?)

I'm putting the book on the table. (where to?)

Take a look

Ich stelle das Buch auf den Tisch. (Wohin?)I'm putting the book on the table. (where to?)
Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch. (Wo?)The book is lying on the table. (where?)
Er geht in die Schule. (Wohin?)He is going to school. (where to?)
Er ist in der Schule. (Wo?)He is at school. (where?)
das Bürodahs bew-ROHthe office

The rule

Some place words, including in, auf and unter, can describe either direction or location. Movement toward a destination usually takes the accusative: Mein Sohn geht in die Schule. A fixed location takes the dative: Ich arbeite in einem Büro. Ask wohin for direction and wo for location. The course has no pair with exactly the same noun, but these two real sentences still show the contrast between destination and location.

Remember: Where to? Accusative. Where? Dative.

Goes with lesson 9, 17, 25 of the course.

What differs for you

English can distinguish movement with into and location with in, so the two meanings are familiar. German may use the same word in for both and let the following form carry the difference. In “in die Schule” the destination calls for the accusative; “in einem Büro” names a fixed place and uses the dative. Check the action first.

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The forms

Where? or where to?

Präposition	Wo? → Dativ	Wohin? → Akkusativ
in	Ich bin im Park.	Ich gehe in den Park.
auf	Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch.	Ich lege das Buch auf den Tisch.
an	Das Bild hängt an der Wand.	Ich hänge das Bild an die Wand.
unter	Die Katze schläft unter dem Bett.	Die Katze läuft unter das Bett.
neben	Er sitzt neben mir.	Er setzt sich neben mich.

Common mistakes

*Mein Sohn geht in der Schule.Mein Sohn geht in die Schule.
*Ich arbeite in ein Büro.Ich arbeite in einem Büro.

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Quick check

Choose the correct article.Ich hänge das Bild an ___ Wand. (where to?)
Choose the correct article.Das Bild hängt an ___ Wand. (where?)
Insert the correct form.Die Katze springt auf ___ Sofa. (where to?, neuter)
Insert the correct form.Die Katze sitzt auf ___ Sofa. (where?, neuter)
Correct the mistake.Er geht in dem Park. (direction)
Where? or where to?Sie legt das Buch ___ den Tisch.

The answers appear after “Check”.

The same exercises come back in the course — there Langula remembers what you know and asks again at the right moment. Learn German free →

← Grammar

Sentence structure

A1The verb in second positionWhere is the verb after “Heute”?A1Nicht and keinWhat does “nicht” do in these sentences?A1Asking questionsWhy does one question start with “Wo” and another with “Kann”?A2Join sentences with weil and dassWhere is ist after weil in “Sie ist traurig, weil er weg ist”?B1Relative clausesRelative clauses give additional information about a noun.B1Infinitive constructionsInfinitive constructions with 'zu' replace subordinate clauses.

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