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Topic test · A1

the preposition vor 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.

I’m standing in front of the house.

Correct. The question “wo?” needs Dativ, and the article “dem” is Dativ.

I’m going to the front of the house.

Correct. The question “wohin?” needs Akkusativ, and the article “das” is Akkusativ.

The car is parked in front of the door.

Correct. A position is described, so Dativ; “der” is feminine Dativ.

He puts the vase in front of the table.

Correct. The movement goes towards a goal, so Akkusativ; “den” is masculine Akkusativ.

Two years ago I was in Berlin.

Correct. In time expressions “vor” takes Dativ; “zwei Jahren” is plural Dativ.

We’re waiting in front of the cinema.

Correct. Waiting is a position, so Dativ; “dem” is neuter Dativ.

My dog jumps to the spot in front of the door.

Correct. “wohin?” shows a direction, so Akkusativ; “die” is feminine Akkusativ.

Es ist fünf zwölf. (five to twelve)

On the clock vor = “to”: fünf vor zwölf = 11:55. nach = “past”.

dem Essen wasche ich mir die Hände.

I wash my hands before the meal.

In a time sequence vor = “before”: vor dem Essen · vor der Arbeit — always Dativ.

Ich habe Angst Spinnen.

I’m afraid of spiders.

The fear pattern: Angst haben vor + Dativ. What you are afraid of comes after vor.

“Ich gehe vor dem Haus.” correctly says that I am going to the front of the house.

False. gehen expresses movement (direction), so it needs Akkusativ: vor das Haus.

Ich habe ihn zwei Jahren gesehen.

I saw him two years ago.

vor. To say “ago” in time, use the preposition vor; it always takes Dativ.

Build the sentence: I’m afraid of spiders.

Tap the pieces to build the sentence

Being afraid of something is expressed with the pattern Angst haben vor.
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. vor = in front of

    Two cases: standing still takes Dativ (vor dem Haus), moving towards takes Akkusativ (vor das Haus). The opposite is hinter.

    Ich stehe vor dem Haus.

  2. vor + time = ago, before

    vor zwei Jahren (two years ago) · vor dem Essen (before the meal) — always Dativ.

    Vor zwei Jahren war ich in Berlin.

  3. On the clock, vor = to

    fünf vor zwölf = 11:55 · Viertel vor acht = 7:45.

    Es ist fünf vor zwölf.

  4. Angst vor + Dativ

    The fear pattern: Angst haben vor Spinnen · vor der Prüfung.

    Ich habe Angst vor Spinnen.

Traps

Commonly mixed up

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

  • Ich gehe vor dem Haus. (I’m going to the front of it)

    Ich gehe vor das Haus.

    Going to the front is a direction: Akkusativ.

  • vor zwei Jahre

    vor zwei Jahren

    vor in the sense of time takes Dativ: plural -n.

  • Ich habe Angst von Spinnen.

    Ich habe Angst vor Spinnen.

    The preposition in the fear pattern is vor.

  • fünf nach zwölf (when you mean 11:55)

    fünf vor zwölf

    vor is “to”, nach is “past”.