German B1 - Intermediate Grammar & Conversational Skills

The most common Dative prepositions are: aus (out of, from), außer (except for, besides), bei (at, with, near), mit (with), nach (after, to), seit (since, for), von (from, by), zu (to, at), gegenüber (opposite, across from).

The most common Accusative prepositions are: durch (through), für (for), gegen (against), ohne (without), um (around, at a specific time), bis (until), entlang (along).

Two-way prepositions (an, auf, hinter, in, neben, über, unter, vor, zwischen) can take either Dative or Accusative. Use Dative for location (no movement, answering wo? - where?), and Accusative for direction (movement, answering wohin? - where to?).
Example (Dative): Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch. (The book lies on the table.)
Example (Accusative): Ich lege das Buch auf den Tisch. (I lay the book onto the table.)

Relative clauses introduce extra information about a noun. They are introduced by a relative pronoun (der, die, das, die) which agrees in gender and number with the antecedent noun, and in case with its function within the relative clause.
Example (Nominative): Der Mann, **der** hier steht, ist mein Bruder. (The man, who stands here, is my brother.)

Relative pronouns:

Example (Accusative): Das ist der Film, **den** ich gesehen habe. (That is the film that I saw.)
Example (Dative): Das ist die Frau, **der** ich geholfen habe. (That is the woman whom I helped.)

When a preposition is part of the relative clause, it comes before the relative pronoun. The case of the relative pronoun is determined by the preposition.
Example: Das ist das Buch, **über das** wir gesprochen haben. (That is the book about which we spoke.) (über takes Accusative here).

The Present Passive is formed with the conjugated form of werden + the Partizip II (past participle) of the main verb at the end of the sentence.
Formula: Subjekt + werden (conjugated) + Partizip II
Example: Das Buch **wird gelesen**. (The book is being read.)

1. Präteritum Passive: wurde (conjugated) + Partizip II.
Example: Das Buch **wurde gelesen**. (The book was read.)
2. Perfekt Passive: sein (conjugated) + Partizip II + worden.
Example: Das Buch **ist gelesen worden**. (The book has been read.)