Choose the case inside the preposition phrase
First find the complete preposition, then its complete complement. In mit einem neuen Plan, the article, adjective and noun belong together. If you replace that phrase with a pronoun, its case remains dative: mit ihm.
The dative core set
These core prepositions take dative with ordinary noun or pronoun complements. Seit can describe an ongoing period, aus a reason, and nach an order or model; their use is not limited to physical places. Gegenüber can follow its complement: dem Eingang gegenüber. Check new words in a dictionary rather than treating this learner set as every German preposition.
| Präposition | Original phrase |
|---|---|
| aus | aus einem wichtigen Grund |
| außer | außer einem Teilnehmer |
| bei | bei der Besprechung |
| mit | mit einem Plan |
| nach | nach dem Gespräch |
| seit | seit einer Woche |
| von | von der Leitung |
| zu | zu diesem Thema |
| gegenüber | gegenüber dem Eingang |
Bis, contractions and changing constructions
Bis often joins another preposition. In bis zum nächsten Montag, zu dem explains the dative; do not change it to accusative because bis appears first. Compare the article-free time phrase bis Montag. Also check position-sensitive words such as entlang separately; they do not fit a single unconditional case list.
Expand contractions to recover the article: im = in dem, ins = in das, am = an dem, ans = an das, beim = bei dem, vom = von dem, zum = zu dem, zur = zu der. In and an are two-way prepositions, so case selection there needs its own meaning check. These contractions are not interchangeable short spellings.
Check the construction in context
Choose your answer before opening the explanation. Check the whole phrase as well as the form.
2. Complete: mit ___ neuen Idee (eine).
mit einer neuen Idee. Mit requires dative; the feminine article is einer.
4. Complete: seit ___ Wochen (zwei).
seit zwei Wochen. The numeral stays zwei. Dative plural Wochen already ends in n.
5. Expand zum Termin and name its case.
zu dem Termin; dative, selected by zu.
6. Choose: bis zum nächsten / bis den nächsten Montag for a deadline with zu.
bis zum nächsten Montag. The inner preposition zu keeps its dative construction.
Start with the topic overview
German prepositions and cases: a practical reference · Find another grammar topic
Questions about this topic
Does movement always mean accusative?
No. Fixed prepositions keep their case: mit and zu take dative. For two-way prepositions, the particular relationship matters, not movement alone.
Sources and further learning
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