German Grammar: German Verb + Preposition Idioms - Grammatik der deutschen Sp...

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About verb + preposition idioms

There are a number of set phrases in both English and German that consist of a verb + a certain preposition. Examples of such English phrases are: to wait for, to think of, to name after, to count on, to believe in, etc. In such idioms, the common meanings of prepositions often do not apply and the choice of preposition is completely determined by the verb choice. It is therfore best to learn the German verb and preposition pair together along with the meanings of these phrases as a whole. As with all prepositional phrases, the case of the prepositional object will depend on the preposition itself. Thus, objects of accusative prepositions will take the accusative case and objects of dative prepositions will take the dative case.
Ich danke dir fr das Geschenk. I thank you for the present. danken fr = to thank for fr is an accusative preposition, so its object will always take the accusative case Grandma always asks me about you. fragen nach = to ask about nach is a dative preposition, so its object will always take the dative case.

Oma fragt mich immer nach dir.

Two-way prepositions may take either the accusative case or the dative case. In the verb + preposition combinations that employ two-way prepositions, it will be necessary to memorize along with the phrase also the case that the preposition uses in that particular phrase.
Denkst du an mich? Will you think of me? denken an = to think of an is a two-way preposition that happens to take the accusative case in the phrase denken an. He's working on the project. arbeiten an = to work on an is a two-way preposition that happens to take the dative case in the phrase arbeiten an.

Er arbeitet an dem Projekt.

Note that sentences that use such prepositional objects may also have other objects as well. This includes direct and/or indirect objects as well as additional prepositional objects.
Ich danke dir fr das Geschenk. I thank you for the present. In addition to the prepositional phrase fr das Geschenk, the sentence also has a dative object dir. (danken is a dative verb.) Grandma always asks me about you. In addition to the prepositional phrase nach dir, the sentence also has an accusative direct object mich. I thank you from the heart for the present. This sentence contains an additional prepositional object in von Herzen.

Oma fragt mich immer nach dir.

Ich danke dir von Herzen fr das Geschenk.

About verb + preposition idioms | List of common verb + preposition idioms GRAMMAR INDEX

List of common verb + preposition idioms

Here is a list of some of the most common verb + preposition idioms in German along with their English equivalents. They are organized by preposition and, when two-way prepositions, are sub-grouped according to the case each phrase uses. General tendencies are noted wherever they apply.

Common German Verb -

English equivalents

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Preposition Idioms

AN
In verb + preposition idioms, the two-way preposition an is used more frequently with the dative case than with the accusative case. Most of the an + accusative phrases refer to mental processes. The preposition in an + dative idioms often means in connection with, with respect to.

denken an (+ acc.) erinnern an (+acc.) sich erinnern an (+ acc.) sich gewhnen an (+ acc.) glauben an (+ acc.) schreiben an (+ acc.) arbeiten an (+ dat.) hindern an (+ dat.) leiden an (+ dat.) sterben an (+ dat.) teilnehmen an (+ dat.) zweifeln an (+ dat.) AUF

to think of (somebody / something) to remind of (sb. / sth.) to remember (sb. / sth.) to get used to (sb. / sth.) to believe in (sb. / sth.) to write to (sb.) to work on (sth.) to prevent from doing (sth.) to suffer from (sth.) to die of (sth.) to take part in (sth.) to doubt (sth.)

In verb + preposition idioms, the two-way preposition auf is almost always used with the accusative. In the few instances where auf occurs with the dative, it indicates an enduring position, a lack of movement. Auf is the most commonly used preposition in verb + preposition idioms.

achten auf (+ acc.) antworten auf (+ acc.) aufpassen auf (+ acc.) beschrnken auf (+ acc.) sich beziehen auf (+ acc.) sich freuen auf (+ acc.) hinweisen auf (+ acc.) hoffen auf (+ acc.) sich konzentrieren auf (+ acc.) reagieren auf (+ acc.) sich verlassen auf (+ acc.) verzichten auf (+ acc.) warten auf (+ acc.) zhlen auf (+ acc.) bestehen auf (+ dat.) AUS

to pay attention to (sb. / sth.) to answer (sth.) to keep an eye on (sb. / sth.) to limit to (sth.) to refer to (sb. / sth.) to look forward to (sth.) to point to (sth.) to hope for (sth.) to concentrate on (sth.) to react to (sth.) to rely on (sb. / sth.) to do without (sb. / sth.) to wait for (sb. / sth.) to count on (sb. / sth.) to insist on (sth.)

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The dative preposition aus usually remains close to its conventional meaning of of or from.

bestehen aus entnehmen aus sich ergeben aus schlieen aus FR

to consist of (sth.) to gather from (sth.) to result from (sth.) to conclude from (sth.)

The accusative preposition fr usually remains close to its conventional meaning for.

sich begeistern fr danken fr sich eignen fr sich entscheiden fr halten fr sich interessieren fr sorgen fr IN

to be enthusiastic about (sth.) to thank for (sth.) to be suitable for (sb. / sth.) to decide in favor of (sb. / sth.) to consider to be (sth.) to be interested in (sb. / sth.) to take care of (sb. / sth.)

In most verb + preposition combinations, the two-way preposition in is used with the accusative.

einfhren in (+ acc.) sich einmischen in (+ acc.) einwilligen in (+ acc.) sich verlieben in (+ acc.) sich vertiefen in (+ acc.) bestehen in (+ dat.) MIT

to introduce to (sth.) to intervene, meddle in (sth.) to agree to (sth.) to fall in love with (sb.) to become engrossed in (sth.) consist in (sth.)

The dative preposition mit normally means with in verb + preposition idioms.

sich abfinden mit anfangen mit aufhren mit sich befassen mit sich beschftigen mit rechnen mit sprechen mit telefonieren mit bereinstimmen mit sich unterhalten mit NACH

to be satisfied with (sth.) to start with (sth.) to stop doing (sth.) to deal with (sb. / sth.) to be busy with (sb. / sth.) to count on (sth.) to speak with (sb.) to talk on the phone with (sb.) to agree with (sb. / sth.) to converse with (sb.)

The dative preposition nach often means after or for with verbs of calling, asking, longing, and reaching.

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With sensory verbs (e.g. to smell, to taste), nach usually means of or like.

aussehen nach sich erkundigen nach fragen nach greifen nach riechen nach schmecken nach sich sehnen nach streben nach suchen nach BER

to look like (sth.) to inquire about (sb. / sth.) to ask about/for (sb. / sth.) to grab at (sth.) to smell like/of (sth.) to taste like (sth.) to long for (sth.) to strive for (sth.) to search for (sb. / sth.)

In verb + preposition idioms, the two-way preposition ber is always used with the accusative case. In a number of idioms, ber means about.

sich rgern ber (+ acc.) sich beschweren ber (+ acc.) diskutieren ber (+ acc.) sich informieren ber (+ acc.) klagen ber (+ acc.) lachen ber (+ acc.) nachdenken ber (+ acc.) spotten ber (+ acc.) sprechen ber (+ acc.) sich streiten ber (+ acc.) urteilen ber (+ acc.) verfgen ber (+ acc.) sich wundern ber (+ acc) UM

to be annoyed about (sb. / sth.) to complain about (sb. / sth.) to discuss (sth.) to inform oneself about (sth.) to complain about (sb. / sth.) to laugh about (sb. / sth.) to think about, ponder (sb. / sth.) to mock (sb. / sth.) to talk about (sb. / sth.) to argue about (sth.) to judge (sb. / sth.) to have (sth.) at one's disposal to be surpised at/about (sb. / sth.)

The accusative preposition um usually has the sense of concerning or with respect to in verb + preposition idioms.

sich bemhen um betrgen um bitten um sich handeln um kmpfen um konkurrieren um sich kmmern um VON

to make efforts toward (sth.) to cheat out of (sth.) to ask for (sth.) to be about (sth.) to fight about (sth.) to compete for (sth.) to take care of (sb. / sth.)

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The dative preposition von usually has the sense of English of or from in verb + preposition idioms. Some verbs of thinking or communication may be used in combination with von or ber in the sense of about, but in these instances ber conveys a more in-depth knowledge or communication than does von.

abhngen von abraten von absehen von erholen von erzhlen von etw. halten von sprechen von trumen von berzeugen von wissen von VOR

to depend on (sb. / sth.) to advise against (sth.) to disregard (sth.) to recover from (sth.) to tell about (sb. / sth.) to think sth. of (sb. / sth.) to speak of (sb. / sth.) to dream of (sb. / sth.) to convince of (sth.) to know of (sb. / sth.)

The two-way preposition vor is always used with the dative case in verb + preposition idioms. With verbs of fear and protection, it usually means of and from or against respectively.

Angst haben vor (+ dat.) beschtzen vor (+ dat) fliehen vor (+ dat.) sich frchten vor (+ dat.) sich hten vor (+ dat.) retten vor (+ dat.) warnen vor (+ dat.) ZU

to be afraid of (sb. / sth.) to protect from (sb. / sth.) to flee from (sb. /sth.) to be afraid of (sb. / sth.) to be on guard against (sb. / sth.) to save from (sb. / sth.) to warn against (sb. / sth.)

In verb + preposition idioms, the dative preposition zu sometimes means to or into, particularly with verbs of empowering, leading, persuading, etc.

beitragen zu bewegen zu dienen zu sich eignen zu fhren zu gehren zu gratulieren zu herausfordern zu neigen zu passen zu rechnen zu treiben zu berreden zu

to contribute to (sb. / sth.) to induce to (do sth.) to serve the purpose of (sth.) to be suitable as (sth.) to lead to (sth.) to part of (sth.) to congratulate on (sth.) to challenge to (sth.) to lean toward (sb. / sth.) to suit (sb. / sth.) to count as one of (sth.) to drive / impel to (sth.) to talk into (sth.)

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zhlen zu zwingen zu

to count as one of (sth.) to force into (doing sth.)

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