Many German verbs and a number of adjectives are used with a
prepositional phrase to complete their meaning, e.g.
Die Firma nimmt an der Messe
teil. (The company participates in the trade fair.)
Das Unternehmen spezialisiert sich auf die Herstellung von
Damenschuhen. (The company specialises in the production of ladies'
shoes.)
Haben Sie sich bei der Firma beworben? (Have you applied for a
job with the company?)
In many cases the preposition is different from what one might
expect in English, e.g.
Er bittet seinen Kollegen um Hilfe. (He asks his colleague
for help.)
Das Land ist reich an natürlichen Rohstoffen. (The country is
rich in natural resources.)
Which case is used after which
prepositions?
There is no problem with the verbs and
adjectives that are used with für, gegen or um
since they are always followed by the accusative case. Likewise there is
no problem with the verbs and adjectives that are used with aus,
bei, mit, von or zu since they are always
followed by the dative case.
The situation is not as clear-cut with those prepositions that can be
followed by either the dative or the accusative case (an, auf,
in, unter, vor etc,) since here they are used in a
more abstract sense, e.g. sprechen über (to talk about; über =
literally: above). But of course, you don't "hover above" the topic you
are talking about, which means that the ["where?" or "when?" -> dative
case & the "where .... to? -> accusative case] rule does not apply.
Click here for more information.
So unfortunately, you will have to learn which case is used with each
expression. At least über is always followed by the accusative
and vor is always followed by the dative case in these instances.
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