Prepositional objects
B1 · Intermediate · Advanced Structures
The rule
Verbs fix their preposition; learn them together.
How it works
Many German verbs take a fixed preposition and case, which must be learned with the verb: warten auf (to wait for, accusative), denken an (to think of, accusative), sich freuen über (to be glad about, accusative), leiden unter (to suffer from, dative). The preposition is not translated literally, so the English equivalent is often a different preposition.
When to use it
Use verbs with fixed prepositions, such as warten auf (to wait for) and denken an (to think of).
Use cases
- Describing waiting or expecting: Ich warte auf den Bus
- Describing thoughts or memories: Ich denke oft an meine Familie
- Describing feelings about a topic: Sie freut sich über das Geschenk
Examples
- Ich warte auf den Bus – I wait for the bus
- Er bittet um Hilfe. – He asks for help.
- Wir sprechen über das Projekt. – We talk about the project.
- Sie leidet unter dem Lärm. – She suffers from the noise.
Common mistake
Choosing the wrong preposition by translating from English: "warten auf" not "warten für".
Memory tip
Learn the verb together with its preposition and case: "sich freuen auf + accusative".
Read the wider picture in our guide: German Cases Explained: Nominative, Accusative, Dative and Genitive.