German prepositions are an essential part of German grammar and are used to indicate the relationship between words in a sentence. In this chapter of our Basic German course, we are going to explore prepositions of inclusion. The prepositions of inclusion are used to indicate that something is included in a larger group or category. They are a crucial part of effective communication in German, as they allow you to express complex ideas clearly and concisely.
In German, the most common prepositions of inclusion are 'in', 'an', 'auf', 'unter', 'über', 'neben', 'zwischen', 'hinter', 'vor', ' bei', 'mit', 'nach', 'seit', 'von', 'zu', 'aus', 'ausser', 'bei', 'entlang', 'gegenüber', 'um', 'durch' , 'für', 'ohne', 'gegen', 'bis', 'ab', 'aus', 'zu'. Each of these prepositions has its own set of rules and usages, and learning to use them correctly can be challenging.
Let's start with the preposition 'in'. 'In' is used to indicate that something is inside something. For example, 'Ich bin in der Schule' means 'I'm at school'. 'In' can also be used to indicate a period of time. For example, 'Ich werde in einer Stunde zurück sein' means 'I'll be back in an hour'.
The preposition 'an' is used to indicate that something is in a specific location. For example, 'Das Bild hängt an der Wand' means 'The picture is on the wall'. 'An' can also be used to indicate a period of time. For example, 'Ich arbeite an einem Projekt' means 'I am working on a project'.
'Auf' is used to indicate that something is on top of something. For example, 'Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch' means 'The book is on the table'. 'Auf' can also be used to indicate a destination. For example, 'Wir fahren auf das Land' means 'We are going to the countryside'.
'Unter' is used to indicate that something is under something. For example, 'Der Hund liegt unter dem Tisch' means 'The dog is under the table'. 'Unter' can also be used to indicate a smaller amount. For example, 'Ich habe weniger als zehn Euro' means 'I have less than ten euros'.
'Über' is used to indicate that something is above something else. For example, 'Der Vogel fliegt über den Baum' means 'The bird is flying over the tree'. 'Über' can also be used to indicate a greater amount. For example, 'Ich habe mehr als zehn Euro' means 'I have more than ten euros'.
'Neben' is used to indicate that something is next to something. For example, 'Das Haus steht neben der Kirche' means 'The house is next to the church'. 'Neben' can also be used to indicate an alternative. For example, 'Neben der Arbeit studiere ich auch' means 'Besides work, I am also studying'.
'Zwischen' is used to indicate that something is between two things. For example, 'Das Haus steht zwischen zwei Bäumen' means 'The house is between two trees'. 'Zwischen' can also be used to indicate a period of time. For example, 'Ich arbeite zwischen acht und fünf' means 'I work between eight and five'.
German inclusion prepositions are a complex topic that takes practice and study to master. However, once you understand how they work, you will be able to express a wide range of ideas and concepts clearly and effectively. Practice using these prepositions in your daily conversations and you will see a significant improvement in your German fluency.
