24.21. Prepositions in German: Prepositions of Exclusion
The study of prepositions in any language is essential for building coherent and understandable sentences. In German, prepositions play an even more important role, as they are responsible for determining the grammatical case of the nouns that follow them. In this chapter, we will focus on exclusion prepositions in German.
What are prepositions of exclusion?
The prepositions of exclusion, as the name suggests, are used to indicate exclusion or separation. In German, these prepositions are usually followed by the genitive case, although they can also be followed by the accusative in a more informal context.
Examples of prepositions of exclusion
Some examples of exclusionary prepositions in German include 'außer' (except), 'ohne' (without), 'statt' or 'anstatt' (instead of), and 'ausgenommen' (excluded).
Außer (except)
'Außer' is used to indicate exclusion in a general sense. For example, 'Ich mag alle Früchte außer Äpfel' means 'I like all fruits except apples'. Note that 'Äpfel' is in the accusative case, as it is the direct object of the sentence.
Ohne (without)
'Ohne' is used to indicate the absence of something. For example, 'Ich kann nicht leben ohne Musik' means 'I can't live without music'. Here, 'Musik' is in the accusative case.
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Statt/Anstatt (instead of)
'Statt' or 'anstatt' are used to indicate replacement. For example, 'Ich trinke Kaffee statt Tee' means 'I drink coffee instead of tea'. Here, 'Tee' is in the genitive case.
Ausgenommen (deleted)
'Ausgenommen' is used to indicate exclusion in a more formal sense. For example, 'Alle sind willkommen, ausgenommen Kinder' means 'All are welcome except children'. Here, 'Kinder' is in the accusative case.
Conclusion
Exclusionary prepositions in German play an important role in building clear and precise sentences. While it may seem challenging at first, with practice and patience, you'll surely master using these prepositions. Remember, the key to learning any language is constant practice and exposure to the language as much as possible. So keep practicing and don't forget to expose yourself to German daily.
We hope that this chapter has helped you to better understand German exclusion prepositions. In the next chapter, we'll explore prepositions of time. Until then, happy learning!
