Genau
Topic test · A1

the preposition gegen test

13questions
8minutes
60%pass mark
Start the test Read the topic first

One question at a time, the clock runs. Answers stay closed like a real exam: you see every correct answer with its explanation at the end. Score 60% to finish the topic.

Topic test

13 questions, easy to hard

Pick an option and press «Next». You can go back and change it. Anything left blank counts as wrong.

Translate into German: “We are against this idea.”

Wir sind gegen die Idee. gegen takes the accusative; with die Idee the article stays die in the accusative too. Option B is a dative mistake. Option C reverses the meaning.

“Around eight o’clock.” (not exact, approximate) In German:

Es ist gegen acht Uhr. For approximate time use gegen + a clock time with no article. B means “exactly eight”. C contains a wrong article.

Fill in the blank (say what the tablet is against): "Er nimmt eine Tablette Halsschmerzen."

gegen. When medicines are used against an illness (to treat it), gegen is required. für is the wrong context. bei Halsschmerzen (dative) means “when you have a sore throat”; it does not say what the tablet is against.

The correct German for “He doesn’t support the decision; he opposes it”:

Er stellt sich gegen die Entscheidung. sich gegen etw. stellen = to oppose something (accusative). With die Entscheidung the article stays die in the accusative. B reverses the meaning, C is a dative mistake.

You want to say “At exactly 10:00” for an appointment. Which preposition do you use?

um 10 Uhr. For exact, formal or transport times use um. gegen means approximately; an is for days (e.g. am Montag).

The ball hit the goal. Der Ball flog das Tor.

gegen. Hitting something is expressed with gegen and takes the accusative: das Tor is neuter, so the form doesn’t change. Writing gegen dem Tor would be dative, and gegen does not take the dative.

The correct German translation of “This medicine is for colds” in a medical context:

Das Medikament ist gegen Erkältung. A medicine is used against an illness (to treat it). für would be misunderstood as “good for / beneficial” (as if it supported the cold). bei takes the dative (bei Erkältung = when you have a cold) but does not state the medicine’s purpose.

Was hilft Kopfschmerzen?

What helps with a headache?

The language of medicine and remedies: something helps against a problem — gegen + accusative. Even though English says “for a headache” or “with a headache”, German does not say für.

Bayern spielt heute Dortmund.

Bayern is playing Dortmund today.

A sports match is expressed with gegen: you play against someone. mit would mean being on the same team.

Which one is wrong?

gegen always takes the accusative — there is no dative version.

To say what a pill is for, standard German says eine Tablette gegen Kopfschmerzen.

True. A medicine works against an illness (as a remedy): gegen Kopfschmerzen. In speech you also hear für Kopfschmerzen, but in writing and at the pharmacy gegen is the safe choice.

Ich komme acht Uhr.

I’m coming around eight o’clock (approximately).

gegen. The preposition gegen is used for an approximate clock time.

Build the sentence: I am against this plan.

Tap the pieces to build the sentence

gegen, which expresses opposition, always takes 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. gegen always takes the accusative

    Opposition, impact, approximate time — whatever the meaning, gegen takes the accusative; there is no dative version.

    Wir sind gegen die Idee.

  2. A medicine works AGAINST something

    English says “something for a headache”; German says gegen Kopfschmerzen. The most useful phrase at the pharmacy: Haben Sie etwas gegen …?

    eine Tablette gegen Halsschmerzen

  3. gegen acht = around eight

    Approximate time takes gegen: gegen acht Uhr (around eight). Exact time is um acht Uhr.

    Ich komme gegen acht.

  4. You bump INTO something with gegen

    gegen die Wand fahren · gegen das Tor fliegen — movement that ends in physical contact.

    Der Ball flog gegen das Tor.

Traps

Commonly mixed up

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

  • Das Medikament ist für Erkältung.

    Das Medikament ist gegen Erkältung.

    A medicine works against the illness; the English “for a cold” reflex misleads you.

  • Ich bin gegen dem Plan.

    Ich bin gegen den Plan.

    gegen never takes the dative.

  • um acht Uhr (when you mean “around eight”)

    gegen acht Uhr

    um gives the exact time; approximation belongs to gegen.

  • Bayern spielt mit Dortmund. (match)

    Bayern spielt gegen Dortmund.

    You play against the opponent; mit means being on the same team.