Where something is
asks for a location. With , or , use the dative for that location: , , . The ordinary verb can describe rest or activity: is still a location — the walk happens inside the park.
Where someone is going
asks for a destination. With these same prepositions, use the accusative for movement into or onto that destination: , . It is the destination, not simply the presence of movement, that matters.
| Noun | Location: where? | Destination: where to? |
|---|---|---|
Common short forms
is , is , and is . These are normal everyday forms. This destination rule belongs to this group of prepositions; other prepositions have their own case rule. Next we use , which always takes the dative, even for a destination.
Ich bin im Park.I am in the park.
Ich gehe in den Park.I am going into the park.
Wir spielen im Park Fußball.We play football in the park.
Practice 1/5 · Finding words
Notice the useful forms
Tap the marked grammar forms.
? .
Where is Jonas? He is in the café.
? .
Where is Lotte going? She is going into the park.
.
We go for a walk in the park.
Practice 2/5 · The right form
Location or destination?
Choose the right word for the gap.
Wo ist Greta? Café.
Where is Greta? In the café.
Wohin geht Jonas? Café.
Where is Jonas going? Into the café.
Mikesch schläft Platz.
Mikesch sleeps in the square.
Lotte läuft Platz.
Lotte runs onto the square.
Wir spielen Park Fußball.
We play football in the park.
Ich fahre Stadt.
I am going into town.
Practice 3/5 · Fill the gaps
Complete the conversation
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
Jonas sitzt Café. Lotte kommt Café.
Jonas is sitting in the café. Lotte comes into the café.
Wo ist Mikesch? Platz. Wohin geht er? Balkon.
Where is Mikesch? In the square. Where is he going? Onto the balcony.
Ich wohne Stadt. Morgen fahre ich Stadt.
I live in town. Tomorrow I go into town.
Die Kinder laufen Park. Sie sind schon dort.
The children are running in the park. They are already there.
Practice 4/5 · Building sentences
Put the message together
Put the words in order.
Where is the station?
Where are you going?
We go for a walk in the park.
Lotte goes into the park.
Practice 5/5 · In situations
Respond to the situation
Choose the right words for the situation.
You are already inside the park and phone Greta to tell her where you are.
You say:
You describe your current location, not your next destination.
You are already inside the park and phone Greta to tell her where you are.
You say:
You describe your current location, not your next destination.
You are at home and ask Lotte where she is going next.
You say:
Wohin asks for the destination.
You are at home and ask Lotte where she is going next.
You say:
Wohin asks for the destination.
Unit complete
