By the end of this lesson, I can…
- Apply: durch always takes the accusative
- Apply: für always takes the accusative
- Apply: gegen always takes the accusative
- Apply: ohne always takes the accusative
- Usage, exceptions and meaning
Simple explanation
What are accusative prepositions?
Some German prepositions always require the noun or pronoun after them to be in the accusative case. The most important ones for A2 learners are durch, für, gegen, ohne and um. Unlike two-way prepositions, you do not need to decide between accusative and dative here: these prepositions consistently take the accusative.
What changes in the accusative case?
The clearest change happens with masculine singular nouns. The definite article der becomes den, and the indefinite article ein becomes einen. Possessive words such as mein also change to meinen before masculine nouns. Feminine, neuter and plural definite articles usually keep the same visible form: die, das and die.
Using durch
durch usually means 'through' or 'via'. It is commonly used when somebody or something moves through a place, or when something happens through a particular method or channel. The noun or pronoun after durch is always accusative.
Using für
für usually means 'for'. It can show the person who receives something, the purpose of something, who something is intended for, or a period of planned time. It is one of the most frequent accusative prepositions in everyday German.
Using gegen
gegen can mean 'against', 'towards and into', or 'approximately' when used with time. The exact meaning depends on context. In every case, the noun or pronoun that follows is in the accusative case.
Using ohne
ohne means 'without'. It is used when a person, object or condition is missing. Because ohne always requires the accusative, masculine articles and personal pronouns may need to change.
Using um
um has several important A2 uses. It is used for exact clock times, as in um acht Uhr, and it can also mean 'around' when something moves or is positioned around another object, as in um den Tisch. In these uses, um takes the accusative case.
Accusative prepositions with personal pronouns
When a personal pronoun follows an accusative preposition, use its accusative form: mich, dich, ihn, sie, es, uns, euch, sie or Sie. For example, für mich means 'for me', ohne dich means 'without you', and gegen ihn means 'against him'.
Positive, negative and question forms
Accusative prepositions can appear in statements, negative sentences and questions without changing their case requirement. For example: Das Geschenk ist für dich. Das Geschenk ist nicht für ihn. Ist das Geschenk für mich? The sentence type changes, but für still requires an accusative noun or pronoun.
Usage, exceptions and meaning
Durch, für, gegen, ohne and um take accusative in this lesson’s uses, even without physical movement. Masculine forms include den/einen/meinen; pronouns mich/dich/ihn. Compare für meinen Vater with mit meinem Vater: both preposition and case differ. Um neun Uhr is a clock expression and needs no extra article. Select the German construction rather than inferring case from a translation.
Usage reference table
The table gives construction models. Meaning-question options follow the interface language; translated sentences appear in Examples.
| Pattern or function | Target-language model |
|---|---|
| Watch masculine singular nouns carefully | Das Geschenk ist für den Vater. |
| Watch masculine singular nouns carefully | Ich kaufe ein Geschenk für einen Freund. |
| Usage, exceptions and meaning | Das Geschenk ist für die Mutter. |
| Usage, exceptions and meaning | Das Geschenk ist für das Kind. |
| für always takes the accusative | Das Geschenk ist für Anna. |
| ohne always takes the accusative | Der Kaffee enthält keinen Zucker. Ich trinke ihn ohne Zucker. |
Grammar formula
durch + accusative
durch + AkkusativWir gehen durch den Park.
für + accusative
für + AkkusativDas Geschenk ist für meinen Bruder.
gegen + accusative
gegen + AkkusativUnsere Mannschaft spielt gegen einen starken Gegner.
ohne + accusative
ohne + AkkusativIch gehe nicht ohne meinen Schlüssel.
um + accusative
um + AkkusativDie Kinder laufen um den Baum.
preposition + accusative pronoun
Akkusativ-Präposition + mich/dich/ihn/sie/es/uns/euch/sie/SieKannst du das für mich machen?
Question about the prepositional complement
Fragewort + Verb + Subjekt + Präposition + Akkusativ?Für wen kaufst du das Geschenk?
Core rules
- 1
durch always takes the accusative
Use an accusative noun or pronoun after durch: durch den Park, durch die Stadt, durch das Fenster, durch ihn.
- 2
für always takes the accusative
Use the accusative after für: für meinen Bruder, für die Kinder, für mich.
- 3
gegen always takes the accusative
Use the accusative after gegen: gegen den Wind, gegen eine Mannschaft, gegen ihn.
- 4
ohne always takes the accusative
Use the accusative after ohne: ohne meinen Schlüssel, ohne das Handy, ohne dich.
- 5
um always takes the accusative
Use the accusative after um: um den Tisch, um das Haus. With clock times, use um directly before the time: um neun Uhr.
- 6
Watch masculine singular nouns carefully
With masculine singular nouns, der becomes den, ein becomes einen, kein becomes keinen, and possessives such as mein become meinen.
- 7
Use accusative pronouns after these prepositions
Do not use nominative forms such as ich, du or er after these prepositions. Use mich, dich, ihn and the other accusative forms.
- 8
The sentence type does not change the required case
A statement, negative sentence or question can all contain the same accusative preposition. The noun or pronoun after it remains accusative.
- 9
Usage, exceptions and meaning
Durch, für, gegen, ohne and um take accusative in this lesson’s uses, even without physical movement. Masculine forms include den/einen/meinen; pronouns mich/dich/ihn. Compare für meinen Vater with mit meinem Vater: both preposition and case differ. Um neun Uhr is a clock expression and needs no extra article. Select the German construction rather than inferring case from a translation.
Useful examples
Wir gehen jeden Morgen durch den Park.
We walk through the park every morning.
Park is masculine, so der Park becomes den Park after durch.
Der Zug fährt durch einen langen Tunnel.
The train travels through a long tunnel.
Tunnel is masculine, so ein becomes einen in the accusative.
Ich habe ein Geschenk für meinen Vater.
I have a present for my father.
für requires the accusative, so mein Vater becomes meinen Vater.
Ist dieser Kaffee für mich?
Is this coffee for me?
The accusative form of ich is mich.
Wir spielen morgen gegen eine andere Mannschaft.
We are playing against another team tomorrow.
Here gegen means 'against' in a competition.
Der Ball fliegt gegen die Wand.
The ball flies into the wall.
gegen can describe movement or impact towards something.
Ich trinke meinen Tee ohne Zucker.
I drink my tea without sugar.
ohne means 'without' and always requires the accusative.
Sie fährt nie ohne ihren Führerschein.
She never drives without her driving licence.
Führerschein is masculine, so ihr becomes ihren.
Der Kurs beginnt um neun Uhr.
The course starts at nine o'clock.
Use um with an exact clock time.
Die Kinder sitzen um den Tisch.
The children are sitting around the table.
Tisch is masculine, so der becomes den after um.
Kannst du das bitte für mich kaufen?
Can you please buy that for me?
für mich is a very common everyday combination.
Ohne dich möchte ich nicht dorthin gehen.
I do not want to go there without you.
The accusative form of du is dich.
Wir fahren gegen acht Uhr los.
We are leaving at around eight o'clock.
With time, gegen usually means 'around' or 'approximately'.
Dieses Buch ist für Kinder.
This book is for children.
Kinder is plural. There is no article here, but the grammatical case is still accusative.
Man kommt durch diese Tür in den Garten.
You can get into the garden through this door.
Tür is feminine, so diese has the same visible form in the accusative.
Common mistakes
- ❌ Das Geschenk ist für dem Vater. ✅ Das Geschenk ist für den Vater.
- ❌ Ich kaufe ein Geschenk für einem Freund. ✅ Ich kaufe ein Geschenk für einen Freund.
- ❌ Das Geschenk ist für der Mutter. ✅ Das Geschenk ist für die Mutter.
- ❌ Das Geschenk ist für der Kind. ✅ Das Geschenk ist für das Kind.
- ❌ Das Geschenk ist seit Anna. ✅ Das Geschenk ist für Anna.
- ❌ Der Kaffee enthält keinen Zucker. Ich trinke ihn mit Zucker. ✅ Der Kaffee enthält keinen Zucker. Ich trinke ihn ohne Zucker.
Learning tips
- Learn durch, für, gegen, ohne and um as one fixed accusative group.
- When you see one of these prepositions, immediately check whether the following noun is masculine.
- Pay special attention to den, einen, keinen, meinen, deinen, seinen and ihren.
- Memorize common chunks such as für mich, für dich, ohne mich and ohne dich.
- Use um for an exact clock time and gegen for an approximate time.
- Do not confuse these fixed accusative prepositions with two-way prepositions such as in, auf and an.
- When a personal pronoun follows the preposition, think in accusative forms rather than translating directly from English.
Use it in your own text
Write six connected sentences about your life, plans or experiences, using each table pattern once. Check why each construction fits, using this lesson’s rules. This is self-assessment; the multiple-choice test has a separate recorded score.
- Write a new sentence about yourself using table pattern 1.
- Write a new sentence about yourself using table pattern 2.
- Write a new sentence about yourself using table pattern 3.
- Write a new sentence about yourself using table pattern 4.
- Write a new sentence about yourself using table pattern 5.
- Write a new sentence about yourself using table pattern 6.
Show the model
Das Geschenk ist für den Vater. Ich kaufe ein Geschenk für einen Freund. Das Geschenk ist für die Mutter. Das Geschenk ist für das Kind. Das Geschenk ist für Anna. Der Kaffee enthält keinen Zucker. Ich trinke ihn ohne Zucker.
Check your own work
- My intended meaning fits the chosen construction.
- I checked subject, verb form, case/preposition and word order.
- I adapted the models to my own context and considered the exceptions.
Put it into practice
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Related grammar
Related dictionary words
Frequently asked questions
What should I check for “durch always takes the accusative”?
Use an accusative noun or pronoun after durch: durch den Park, durch die Stadt, durch das Fenster, durch ihn.
What should I check for “für always takes the accusative”?
Use the accusative after für: für meinen Bruder, für die Kinder, für mich.
What should I check for “gegen always takes the accusative”?
Use the accusative after gegen: gegen den Wind, gegen eine Mannschaft, gegen ihn.
What should I check for “ohne always takes the accusative”?
Use the accusative after ohne: ohne meinen Schlüssel, ohne das Handy, ohne dich.
What should I check for “um always takes the accusative”?
Use the accusative after um: um den Tisch, um das Haus. With clock times, use um directly before the time: um neun Uhr.
What should I check for “Watch masculine singular nouns carefully”?
With masculine singular nouns, der becomes den, ein becomes einen, kein becomes keinen, and possessives such as mein become meinen.
What should I check for “Use accusative pronouns after these prepositions”?
Do not use nominative forms such as ich, du or er after these prepositions. Use mich, dich, ihn and the other accusative forms.
What should I check for “The sentence type does not change the required case”?
A statement, negative sentence or question can all contain the same accusative preposition. The noun or pronoun after it remains accusative.
What should I check for “Usage, exceptions and meaning”?
Durch, für, gegen, ohne and um take accusative in this lesson’s uses, even without physical movement. Masculine forms include den/einen/meinen; pronouns mich/dich/ihn. Compare für meinen Vater with mit meinem Vater: both preposition and case differ. Um neun Uhr is a clock expression and needs no extra article. Select the German construction rather than inferring case from a translation.
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