Genau
Topic test · A1

the preposition für test

13questions
8minutes
60%pass mark
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Topic test

13 questions, easy to hard

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Translate: “This present is for my mother.”

für meine Mutter. für takes the accusative; die Mutter is feminine, and the feminine doesn’t change in the accusative → meine. meiner is dative, meinen is the masculine accusative.

“I bought the car for 3,000 euros.” Which preposition is right?

für 3000 Euro. A price is expressed with für. mit means “with” (a tool), von means “from” (a source) — neither gives a price.

“I’ve been in Berlin for two weeks.” How do you say it in German?

seit zwei Wochen. A period that runs from the past up to now takes seit + dative (zwei Wochen). für would mean a set length of time (a plan), vor means “two weeks ago”.

Which preposition fills the gap in “I’m interested in history”? Ich interessiere mich Geschichte.

für. sich interessieren für is a verb + preposition combination, für is required, and it takes the accusative (Geschichte shows no case ending).

He’s waiting for the bus. Er wartet den Bus.

warten auf = to wait for

auf. warten carries its own preposition, and that is auf + accusative. Translating “wait for” word for word and writing für is one of the most common mistakes — prepositions that stick to a verb are learned, not translated.

You want to ask, “What should I buy for you?” Which pronoun is right?

für dich. After für the pronoun must be accusative: dich. du is a nominative error, dir a dative error.

“We’re going to Munich for three days (as planned).” In German:

für drei Tage. A planned length of time takes für, and the accusative plural does not add -n (that is the dative ending). seit describes something already going on, not a plan.

Danke deine Hilfe!

Thanks for your help!

The reason for thanks is given with für + accusative: Danke für deine Hilfe · Danke für alles.

Ich bin diesen Plan. (I’m in favour of this plan)

Being in favour is für, being against is gegen: Bist du für oder gegen den Plan?

What is the contraction of für + das?

für das = fürs: fürs Wochenende · fürs Kind. für always takes the accusative.

The sentence “Das ist für du.” is correct.

False. für always takes the accusative, so the right form is für dich.

Wir fahren drei Tage nach München.

We’re going to Munich for three days (planned).

für. A planned length of time in the future is expressed with für.

Build the sentence: Thanks for your help!

Tap the pieces to build the sentence

Danke für deine Hilfe. The pattern danken für always takes the accusative. After “for your help” the noun phrase stands in the accusative.
Quick rules

The rules in three lines

The full topic lives on its own page. This is only the core you need for the test.

  1. für + accusative, no exceptions

    For whom, for what — always accusative: für meine Mutter · für dich · für das Kind.

    Das Geschenk ist für meine Mutter.

  2. Price and planned time take für

    für 3000 Euro kaufen (price) · für drei Tage nach München (planned time). Something running since the past is seit.

    Wir fahren für drei Tage nach München.

  3. für = for, gegen = against

    Bist du für oder gegen den Plan? — the language of voting and debate.

    Ich bin für diesen Plan.

  4. Thanks and interest patterns

    Danke für … but watch out: sich interessieren für for interest, warten auf for waiting — the verb picks its own preposition.

    Danke für deine Hilfe!

Traps

Commonly mixed up

Where a direct translation breaks. The hard questions come from here.

  • Das Geschenk ist für meiner Mutter.

    Das Geschenk ist für meine Mutter.

    für never takes the dative — always the accusative.

  • Ich bin seit drei Tagen in München. (for a planned trip)

    Wir fahren für drei Tage nach München.

    seit describes a period running since the past, für a planned period.

  • Er wartet für den Bus.

    Er wartet auf den Bus.

    The preposition of warten is auf; English “wait for” tempts you into für, but it doesn’t fit here.

  • Ich interessiere mich für dem Buch.

    Ich interessiere mich für das Buch.

    After für the dative never appears.