Many German verbs require a fixed preposition — the Präpositionalergänzung. Unlike English, you cannot choose the preposition freely; each verb locks onto one (or sometimes two) specific prepositions. Mastering these combinations is essential for the B1 exam and for natural spoken German.
The three preposition categories
| Category | Prepositions | Case |
|---|---|---|
| Always Akkusativ | durch, bis, für, ohne, gegen, um, entlang | Akk. |
| Always Dativ | bei, mit, seit, aus, zu, nach, von, gegenüber | Dat. |
| Wechselpräpositionen | an, auf, hinter, in, neben, über, unter, vor, zwischen | Akk. (Wohin?) / Dat. (Wo?) |
For a full overview of verb-preposition combinations at A1 level, see the verbs with prepositions guide. For prepositions in context at B1, try the B1 prepositions choice exercise. External references: Duden grammar guide and DW Learn German.
Exercise – Type the correct preposition
Type the fixed preposition for each verb. Where two prepositions are possible, either is accepted.
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