Day 48 - an, auf, in, nach, zu

Question 1

All of these prepositions can be translated as to. The following lesson will explain the differences.

AN is used when going up to a border edge, or wall.
AUF is used when the destination is on top of something.

Study the following examples:

I am going to the beach. Ich gehe AN den Strand. GOING TO SOMETHING
She went to the window. Sie ging ANS Fenster.
I’m going to the toilet. Ich gehe AUF die Toilette. ON TOP OF SOMETHING
She is going to the countryside. Sie fährt AUFS Land.

IN is used when going INTO something, and also with countries that have an article.
NACH is used with countries, cities, or your home, as well as DIRECTIONS like left and right.

I’m going to bed. Ich gehe ins Bett. INTO SOMETHING
He is going to the city. Er geht in die Stadt.
We are traveling to Switzerland. Wir reisen in die Schweiz. COUNTRIES WITH AN ARTICLE

We are driving to Berlin. Wir fahren nach Berlin. COUNTRIES WITHOUT ARTICLES, CITIES, OR YOUR HOME; DIRECTIONS

I’m going home. Ich gehe nach Hause.
It goes from left to right. Es geht von links nach rechts.

For everything else use zu. If you can’t remember what preposition to use, just use zu as your default and a German speaker will understand.

 Go to the church. Geh zur Kirche.

Zu is also used when going to a person.

 Come to me. Komm zu mir. 

The phrase zu Hause means at home. You can often replace in with zu, which translates that you are going somewhere, but not necessarily into it.

 She is going to the train station. Sie geht zum Bahnhof.

Question 2

1. AN (to) border / edge / wall
2. AUF (to) on top of destination
3. IN (to) into / countries with an article
4. NACH (to) countries / cities / home / directions
5. ZU (to) default / people 9always dative)
6. ZU HAUSE at home

Question 3

1. die Reinigung…dry cleaner’s die Reinigung (-en)
2. der Dom…cathedral der Dom (-e)
3. der Geldautomat…ATM der Geldautomat (-en)
4. der Imbiss…diner der Imbiss (-e)
5. das Einkaufszentrum…shopping mall das Einkaufszentrum (die Einkaufszentren)
6. die Botschaft…embassy die Botschaft (-en)
7. das Zollamt…customs office das Zollamt (ä, -er)
8. das Büro…office das Büro (-s)
9. der Bahnhof…train station. Bahnhof (ö, -e)
10. der Friseur/die Friseurin…hairdresser der Friseur (-e) / die Friseurin (-nen)

Question 4

1. I am going to the dry cleaner’s.

Answer 4

Ich gehe in die Reinigung.

Question 5

2. She went to the cathedral.

Answer 5

Sie ging zum Dom.

DER Dom…zu uses dative

Question 6

3. He is going to the ATM.

Answer 6

Er geht an den Geltautomaten.

AN…up to. Der Geldautomaten

Question 7

4. I’m driving to the diner.

Answer 7

Ich fahre zum Imbiss. ZU+DEM

Question 8

5. We went to the shopping mall.

Answer 8

Wir gingen ins Einkaufszentrum.

IN…going into something. INS=IN DES

Question 9

6. I have to go to the embassy.

Answer 9

Ich muss zur Botschaft gehen. ZU+Der. die Botschaft>der Botschaft

Question 10

7. He is in the customs office.

Answer 10

Er ist im Zollamt.

IN+DEM. das Zollamt

Question 11

8. She is in the office.

Answer 11

Sie ist im Büro.

das Büro>DEM Büro

Question 12

9. They went to the train station.

Answer 12

Sie gingen zum Bahnhof. der Bahnhof>DEM Bahnhof

Question 13

10. She went to the hairdresser.

Answer 13

Sie ging zum Friseur.

der Friseur>DEM