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DATIVE PREPOSITIONS
The Prepositions That Always Take Dative
aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, zu — no exceptions, ever.
Why this matters: Some prepositions in German change case depending on context. These seven don't — they always take dative, full stop. Once you've memorized this short list, you never have to think twice about the case again when you see one of them.
The Seven Dative Prepositions
Learn these as a fixed set. No matter what follows, the noun or pronoun after them always goes into the dative.
| Preposition | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| aus | from / out of | Ich komme aus Deutschland. |
| bei | at / near (someone's place) | Ich bin bei meiner Freundin. |
| mit | with | Ich fahre mit dem Bus. |
| nach | after / to (cities, countries) | Ich fahre nach Berlin. |
| seit | since / for (time) | Ich wohne seit einem Jahr hier. |
| von | from / of | Das ist ein Geschenk von meiner Mutter. |
| zu | to (people, specific places) | Ich gehe zu meinem Arzt. |
Real Talk: most learners just memorize the list as a chant: "aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, zu." Say it out loud a few times until it's automatic — that's genuinely how most native-adjacent speakers keep track of it too.
Special Contractions
Three of these prepositions almost always contract with the dative article dem or der in everyday speech.
| Preposition + article | Contraction | Example |
|---|---|---|
| bei + dem | beim | Ich bin beim Arzt. |
| von + dem | vom | Ich komme vom Supermarkt. |
| zu + dem | zum | Ich gehe zum Bahnhof. |
| zu + der | zur | Ich gehe zur Arbeit. |
nach vs. zu: A Quick Heads-Up
Both can mean "to," but they're not interchangeable. Use nach for cities and countries with no article (nach Berlin, nach Deutschland). Use zu for people and specific places (zu meinem Arzt, zum Bahnhof). One exception to memorize: zu Hause means "at home," while nach Hause means "(going) home" — both use Hause, but they answer different questions.
📥 Download Your Lesson 16 PDF
Dative preposition flashcards, the contractions cheat sheet, and 4 practice exercises with an answer key — enter your email and it lands in your inbox instantly.
📖 What's Next:
Next up: A1 Lesson 17 — Perfekt Tense with haben. You'll learn how to talk about the past — ge-t and ge-en participles, and when haben is the auxiliary you need.
Related Posts
→ A1 Lesson 15: Dative Case & Personal Pronouns
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