Akkusativ prepositions — durch, für, gegen, ohne, um
There are prepositions in German whose noun is ALWAYS Akkusativ — no wiggle room, no context switching. Learn the short list and you'll never have to guess the case.
The seven to memorize
| Preposition | Core meaning | Other uses | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| durch | through | by means of | durch den Park — through the park |
| für | for | on behalf of | für dich — for you |
| gegen | against | toward, approximately | gegen die Wand — against the wall |
| ohne | without | ohne einen Schlüssel — without a key | |
| um | around | at (with clock time) | um den Tisch — around the table |
| bis | until | up to | bis nächsten Montag — until next Monday |
| entlang | along | (usually after the noun) | den Fluss entlang — along the river |
Pick a mnemonic if it helps: DOGFUB (durch-ohne-gegen-für-um-bis), or just build a little phrase you like — durch den Park für meinen Hund ohne Geld — whatever makes the pattern stick.
The effect on articles
Every noun after one of these prepositions lands in Akkusativ. Which means, in practice: the masculine article adds -n. Feminine, neuter, and plural look identical to Nominativ.
Examples (tap to reveal translation)
A few quirks worth naming
bis often teams up with another preposition. On its own, bis is fine with time or abstract destinations (bis morgen, bis Berlin). For most physical destinations German tacks on another preposition afterward, and THAT preposition's case takes over. Bis zu is the most common, which forces Dativ (the rule of the second preposition wins).
- Ich fahre bis Berlin. — fine.
- Ich fahre bis zur Grenze. — zu takes Dativ, so it's zur (zu + der), not die.
If in doubt with bis, spot the second preposition and apply its case.
entlang usually sits AFTER the noun. And when it does, it's Akkusativ. Den Fluss entlang. If it precedes the noun, it typically takes Genitiv — but that's a register-shifted, slightly literary usage. Put it after, keep it Akkusativ, and you'll be right in everyday speech.
gegen + number = approximately. Gegen 8 Uhr = "around 8 o'clock." Gegen 100 Euro = "around 100 euros." Still Akkusativ.
Fusion / contraction: durchs, fürs, ums
Some prepositions fuse with das into a single word:
- durch das → durchs
- für das → fürs
- um das → ums
You'll hear these a lot in speech. They're not mandatory in writing, but perfectly standard.
Examples (tap to reveal translation)
Common mistakes, named
-
Using Nominativ out of habit. Für der Mann. ❌ → Für den Mann. ✓ The list ALWAYS takes Akkusativ. No thinking required.
-
Using Dativ with ohne. English speakers who've learned mit (Dativ) sometimes generalize. Ohne meinem Freund. ❌ → Ohne meinen Freund. ✓
-
Putting entlang before a noun in speech. It's technically valid, but use the after-the-noun Akkusativ form — den Fluss entlang — and sound like a native.
-
Forgetting that bis + preposition switches case. Bis zu der Grenze. ❌ → Bis zur Grenze. ✓ zu takes Dativ, contracts with der to zur.
Mini check
Quick Check
Wir laufen durch ___ Park.
Quick Check
Ich bin gegen ___ Idee. (Idee = fem.)
Quick Check
Ohne ___ Hilfe schaffe ich das nicht. (Hilfe = fem.)
Where this leads
You've got the full toolkit for simple sentences now: subjects, verbs, direct objects, possessives, Akkusativ prepositions. Next — how to give commands: Komm!, Geht!, Hören Sie!
Next up: Imperativ — giving commands.
Test yourself
Quick Check
Which case does 'für' always take?
Quick Check
'Wir gehen durch ___ Wald.' — Which article fits?
Quick Check
Er geht ___ seine Freundin ins Kino.
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