GLOSSARY

Wechselpräpositionen — two-way prepositions

The nine two-way prepositions take Akkusativ for motion toward and Dativ for position — the wohin/wo question decides every time.

VON GERMANIUM

Editorial desk — reviewed against Goethe A1–A2 frameworks

The Wechselpräpositionen — in, an, auf, über, unter, vor, hinter, neben, zwischen — are the nine prepositions that take either case. The decision is one question: **wohin? (where to?) → Akkusativ for motion toward; wo? (where at?) → Dativ* for position. Ich hänge das Bild an die Wand (destination) vs. Das Bild hängt an der Wand* (state).

The verb's geometry predicts it: stellen, legen, setzen, hängen [transitive], gehen, fahren create destinations (accusative); sein, stehen, liegen, hängen [state] describe position (dative). The full logic with verb classes.