the preposition an
die Präposition an
an is a two-way preposition: it takes the dative for a position and the accusative for a direction.
The preposition “an” expresses both place and time. For place, the question “where?” takes the dative and “where to?” takes the accusative. Learners usually forget the movement and use the dative every time.
an – two cases (dative / accusative)
“an” takes two cases: dative if it answers “wo?” (where), accusative if it answers “wohin?” (where to). The simple rule: if something moves to a new place in the sentence, use the accusative; if not, the dative.
Same preposition, different case: Ich stehe an der Wand. (position, dative) — Ich stelle das Bild an die Wand. (movement, accusative). English does the same job with “I’m standing at the wall” vs. “I put the picture on the wall”.
an with position (dative): examples
In the table below “an” shows a position, so the dative is used. The cards also include two direction (accusative) examples.
| German | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ich sitze am Tisch. | I’m sitting at the table. | Dative – position |
| Das Auto steht an der Ampel. | The car is stopped at the traffic light. | Dative – position |
| Wir warten an der Bushaltestelle. | We’re waiting at the bus stop. | Dative – position |
| Das Bild hängt an der Wand. | The picture is hanging on the wall. | Dative – position |
Every sentence in the table answers the question “wo?”.
- Ich warte an der Haltestelle. I’m waiting at the stop. waiting
- Er lehnt an der Wand. He’s leaning against the wall. leaning
- Wir treffen uns am Montag. We’re meeting on Monday. day
- Sie klebt das Foto an den Kühlschrank. She’s sticking the photo on the fridge. sticking · accusative
- Das Schiff liegt am Kai. The ship is moored at the quay. position
- Ich gehe ans Meer. I’m going to the sea. direction · accusative
an with direction (accusative): examples
In the sentences below “an” shows movement towards a target, so the accusative is used.
| German | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ich hänge das Poster an die Wand. | I’m hanging the poster on the wall. | Accusative – direction |
| Er stellt die Flasche an den Rand. | He puts the bottle at the edge. | Accusative – direction |
| Wir legen das Handtuch an den Pool. | We put the towel down by the pool. | Accusative – direction |
| Sie klebt den Zettel an den Kühlschrank. | She sticks the note on the fridge. | Accusative – direction |
Every sentence answers the question “wohin?”.
Contractions (am · ans) and use in time expressions
“an” merges with the definite article: “an dem” → am, “an das” → ans. These short forms are standard in writing and in speech; the separate “an dem” only stays when the article is stressed (“at that table”).
For days and dates the contracted form is used: am Montag, am 3. Mai. “an Montag” or “an 3. Mai” without the article is wrong. It is the German version of English “on Monday”, “on 3 May”.
In time expressions “an” usually appears as “am”, but it can also stand on its own: an diesem Tag (on this day), an Feiertagen (on public holidays).
Traps
Using the dative when there is movement
The learner reaches for the dative, thinking of a position; in fact the object is being put somewhere.
Ich stelle den Stuhl an der Tisch.
“Tisch” is masculine, so the dative would be “dem”; besides, there is movement, so the accusative “den” is needed.
Ich stelle den Stuhl an den Tisch.
I put the chair at the table.
Using “in” instead of “an” in time expressions
Days of the week use “an” in its contracted form; “in” is wrong.
In Montag gehe ich ins Kino.
“in” is not used with days; the correct contraction is “am” (= an dem).
Am Montag gehe ich ins Kino.
On Monday I’m going to the cinema.
Using the contraction “am” with the wrong gender
“am” = an + dem (masculine/neuter). With feminine nouns “an der” has to stay; “am” is not possible.
Ich hänge das Bild am die Wand.
“Wand” is feminine: dative “der”, accusative “die”; “am” only works with masculine/neuter.
Ich hänge das Bild an die Wand.
I’m hanging the picture on the wall.
What you just learned
Er hängt das Bild ___ die Wand.
Show the answer
an. For the act of hanging something on a vertical surface (a wall), an + accusative is used.
“In Montag arbeite ich nicht.” is correct.
Show the answer
False. Days are expressed with an + dem = am, not with in: Am Montag arbeite ich nicht.
I’m sitting at the table.
Show the answer
Ich sitze am Tisch. A position sentence answering “wo?”, so the dative is used: an + dem = am.
Build the sentence yourself
Tap the words and put them in order. This is the hardest part of German — and there are no options to pick from, you build it.
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tap the words
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tap the words
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tap the words
Know this before the test
The core of the topic in three lines, then the mistakes people make most often.
- an = touching a vertical surface
Wall, door, window, board — if something touches a vertical surface, it is an. A horizontal surface is auf; above without touching is über.
Das Bild hängt an der Wand.
- Days take an
am Montag · am Wochenende · am 1. Mai. Months and seasons take im, clock times take um.
Am Montag gehe ich ins Kino.
- Movement is accusative, standing is dative
A two-way preposition: while hanging something up, an die Wand; once it hangs there, an der Wand. If the question is wohin? use the accusative, if it is wo? use the dative.
Ich hänge es an die Wand. → Es hängt an der Wand.
- Shores and stops take an
Places you approach along water or a line: ans Meer fahren · am Meer sein · an der Haltestelle warten.
Wir warten an der Haltestelle.
Das Bild hängt auf der Wand.
Das Bild hängt an der Wand.
A wall is vertical: an. auf belongs to horizontal surfaces.
In Montag gehe ich ins Kino.
Am Montag gehe ich ins Kino.
Days are built with an + dem = am.
Ich hänge das Bild an der Wand.
Ich hänge das Bild an die Wand.
Hanging something up is movement: wohin? → accusative.
Um Wochenende schlafe ich lange.
Am Wochenende schlafe ich lange.
um is for clock times; the weekend takes am.
Test yourself
Tap an answer — we will look at why together.
I’m sitting at the table.
I’m hanging the picture on the wall.
On Monday I’m going to the cinema.
I’m putting the bottle at the edge.
We’re waiting at the bus stop.
I’m going to the sea.
Practice done — –
To finish the topic, take the full test: score 60% and it is marked as done on your level path.
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an pocket card
This whole page — tables, traps, examples — as one PDF. Download it, print it, run through it before the exam.
Related topics
wo? · wohin?
in die Küche or in der Küche?
The questions wo?, wohin?
Prepositions and cases
für dich, mit dir
German prepositions are small words that come before a noun, link it to the sentence and decide its case: für dich, mit dir.
Akkusativ & Dativ
the full article table
Accusative vs dative: what actually changes, and what never moves at all.