TOPIC · Prepositions (Präpositionen)

Prepositions Anhand, Mittels, and Mithilfe

B2

After completing this lesson, you will be able to use the prepositions "anhand", "mittels", and "mithilfe" correctly in German.

The Prepositions "anhand", "mittels", and "mithilfe"

In German grammar, prepositions are a crucial part of the language. In this lesson, we will explore the prepositions "anhand", "mittels", and "mithilfe", which are typically used with the genitive case. These prepositions are particularly common in formal contexts such as reporting and scientific writing.

Usage and Meaning

The three prepositions are used to describe the means or methods employed to achieve an objective or to explain something. Let’s look at some examples:

Examples:

PrepositionExampleTranslation
anhandDer Lehrer erklärte die Übung anhand eines Beispiels.The teacher explained the exercise using an example.
mittelsDas Gewicht wird mittels einer Waage bestimmt.The weight is determined using a scale.
mithilfeWir arbeiten mithilfe eines Experten an dem Projekt.We are working on the project with the help of an expert.

Usage with Genitive

The aforementioned prepositions generally require the genitive case. This means that the noun that follows often comes with a definite article or an adjective:

Examples:

PrepositionExampleTranslation
mithilfeDie Daten werden mithilfe des neuen Computers analysiert.The data will be analyzed using the new computer.
mittelsDie Straße wurde mittels Salz vom Eis befreit.The street was cleared of ice using salt.

Genitive vs. Dative

When the following noun does not have a definite article or an adjective, it will take the dative case:

ExampleTranslation
Mithilfe von einem Experten arbeiten wir an dem Projekt.We are working on the project with the help of an expert.

Alternatives to "anhand", "mittels", and "mithilfe"

In certain contexts, these prepositions can be replaced by "mit" or "durch," keeping the meaning similar:

Examples:

AlternativesExampleTranslation
mitWir erklären das mit einem Beispiel.We explain this with an example.
durchDie Daten werden durch einen neuen Computer analysiert.The data is analyzed with a new computer.

After completing this lesson, you will be able to use the prepositions "anhand", "mittels", and "mithilfe" correctly in German.