A1 · beginner #NEBEN

The preposition neben

die Präposition neben

neben (next to, beside) is a two-way preposition: it takes the Dativ for location and the Akkusativ for direction.

neben takes two cases: Dativ for location (wo? — where?), Akkusativ for direction (wohin? — where to?). English “next to” looks the same either way, so learners often lose track of whether there is a goal (a direction) or not.

Contents

neben – Dativ or Akkusativ?

If the question is wo? (where?) and the sentence states a location, neben takes the Dativ. If the question is wohin? (where to?) and the sentence states a direction (a goal), it takes the Akkusativ.

The goal decides: if something is put somewhere or arrives at a place, use the Akkusativ; if things happen at that place, use the Dativ. A movement verb alone is not enough: Er geht neben mir. (he walks beside me) is a location.

Question	Sentence	Case
wo?	Das Buch liegt neben dem Tisch.	Dativ
wohin?	Er stellt das Buch neben den Tisch.	Akkusativ

The verb (liegen vs. stellen) changes whether it is a location or a direction.

neben with location (Dativ): examples

Everyday sentences that state a fixed position with neben + Dativ.

German	English
Das Buch liegt neben dem Tisch.	The book is lying next to the table.
Meine Katze schläft neben mir.	My cat is sleeping next to me.
Die Schule steht neben dem Bahnhof.	The school is next to the train station.
Wir sitzen neben den Freunden.	We are sitting next to our friends.

Dativ articles: dem (masc.), der (fem.), dem (neut.), den (plural).

Ich wohne neben dem Bahnhof. I live next to the train station. Location
Er stellt die Tasse neben den Teller. He puts the cup next to the plate. Direction
Neben der Arbeit lernt er Deutsch. Besides work, he is learning German. Figurative: besides
Die Bank steht neben dem Fluss. The bench is next to the river. Location
Ich stelle das Fahrrad neben die Tür. I am putting the bike next to the door. Direction
Nebenbei: Das Wetter ist schön. By the way: the weather is nice. Adverb

neben with direction (Akkusativ): examples

In sentences with movement, neben + Akkusativ is used.

German	English
Er stellt die Vase neben den Tisch.	He puts the vase next to the table.
Sie legt das Handy neben das Buch.	She puts the phone next to the book.
Wir fahren das Auto neben die Garage.	We drive the car up next to the garage.
Der Hund springt neben den Zaun.	The dog jumps down next to the fence.

Akkusativ articles: den (masc.), die (fem.), das (neut.), die (plural).

The “in addition to” meaning and nebenbei

Besides “next to”, neben is also used to mean “in addition to / besides”. Example: neben der Arbeit = besides work.

The adverb nebenbei is also common, meaning “by the way / in passing”.

In this meaning the case is always the Dativ (neben der Arbeit).

Traps

TRAP 01

Using the Akkusativ with a location verb

In English, “park next to the house” gives no hint about the case. But parken usually states where the car is standing: wo? → Dativ.

Das Auto parkt neben das Haus.

Here parken states no movement, it is a location → it needs the Dativ “dem Haus”.

Das Auto parkt neben dem Haus.

The car is parked next to the house (location).

TRAP 02

Using the Dativ in a sentence with a direction

With verbs that put something somewhere, like “put next to” or “sit down next to”, the Akkusativ is a must. But not every movement verb states a direction: Er geht neben mir. (he walks beside me) takes the Dativ.

Er stellt den Koffer neben dem Bett.

stellen puts something somewhere → wohin? → it should be the Akkusativ “das Bett”.

Er stellt den Koffer neben das Bett.

He puts the suitcase next to the bed.

TRAP 03

Forgetting the plural Dativ -n

Plural nouns take ‑n in the Dativ; if you forget it, the noun looks like an Akkusativ.

Wir sitzen neben die Freunde.

sitzen is a location → it needs the Dativ “den Freunden”.

Wir sitzen neben den Freunden.

We are sitting next to our friends.

Practice now

What you just learned

Ich sitze neben ___ Mann.
Show the answer
dem. sitzen takes the Dativ, and der Mann becomes dem Mann in the Dativ.
He puts the book next to the table.
Show the answer
Er legt das Buch neben den Tisch. “legen” is movement → Akkusativ (den Tisch).
Besides work, he also has a hobby.
Show the answer
Neben der Arbeit hat er ein Hobby. “neben der Arbeit” = besides work; “Arbeit” is feminine, Dativ “der Arbeit”.

The other two-way prepositions

Same group

wo? / wohin? — two-way prepositions Prepositions — overview The preposition in The preposition an The preposition auf The preposition über The preposition unter The preposition vor The preposition hinter The preposition zwischen

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Tips

Know this before the test

The core of the topic in three lines, then the mistakes people make most often.

neben = right next to
Two cases: something that stands takes the Dativ, something that moves toward a spot takes the Akkusativ. Difference from zwischen: a single neighbour, not the space between two things.
Das Buch liegt neben dem Tisch.
Akkusativ when you put something
Ich stelle den Stuhl neben den Tisch. — the chair is going there.
neben den Tisch stellen
Sit next to me: neben mich
The same rule applies to people: Setz dich neben mich! (movement) · Du sitzt neben mir. (state).
Setz dich neben mich!
Figurative: besides
Neben der Arbeit hat er ein Hobby. — in this meaning it is always the Dativ.
neben der Arbeit

Ich stelle den Stuhl neben dem Tisch.
Ich stelle den Stuhl neben den Tisch.
Putting something somewhere states a direction: Akkusativ.
Die Lampe steht neben das Bett.
Die Lampe steht neben dem Bett.
Something that stands takes the Dativ.
Setz dich neben mir!
Setz dich neben mich!
The act of sitting down is directed to a spot: Akkusativ.
Neben die Arbeit hat er ein Hobby.
Neben der Arbeit hat er ein Hobby.
The meaning “besides” is always the Dativ.

0707:30

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The book is lying next to the table.

Das Buch liegt neben dem Tisch. “liegen” states a location, so neben takes the Dativ (dem Tisch).

He puts the book next to the table.

Er legt das Buch neben den Tisch. “legen” is movement → Akkusativ (den Tisch).

Besides work, he also has a hobby.

Neben der Arbeit hat er ein Hobby. “neben der Arbeit” = besides work; “Arbeit” is feminine, Dativ “der Arbeit”.

We are sitting next to our friends.

Wir sitzen neben den Freunden. “sitzen” is a location → Dativ; plural Dativ “den Freunden” (-n is added).

I put the chair next to the table.

neben den Tisch. stellen is a movement verb (where to?) → Akkusativ. der Tisch becomes den Tisch in the Akkusativ.

She puts the vase next to the window.

Sie stellt die Vase neben das Fenster. “Fenster” is neuter, Akkusativ “das Fenster” (the article doesn’t change).

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Worksheet

neben pocket card

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Dativ verbs

helfen · gefallen · gehören · geben

Dativ verbs are German verbs whose object goes in the dative case: helfen, gefallen, gehören, geben.

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Prepositions