Brottin

TOPIC · Adjectives (Adjektive)

Verben und Adjektive mit Präposition ,,an"

B1B2

After this lesson you can correctly use common verbs and adjectives with the preposition "an" with either dative or accusative and avoid typical mistakes.

In German there are many fixed verb and adjective phrases with the preposition "an". "an" can take either Dativ (dative) or Akkusativ (accusative), depending on the verb/adjective. You must learn these combinations as fixed patterns.

Overview: "an" + Dativ or Akkusativ?

Many verbs and adjectives have a fixed Rektion (the required case after a preposition).

  • "an" + Dativ: often describes a state, cause, or participation
  • "an" + Akkusativ: often expresses an active mental/physical direction towards something (denken an, glauben an …)

The case does not follow a logical rule for you to derive; you simply memorize it: "denken an dem Urlaub" is wrong, the only correct form is "denken an den Urlaub".

1Verbs with "an" + Dativ

a) Common verbs

VerbExampleMeaning
sich beteiligen anDie Schüler beteiligen sich an der Diskussion.the pupils take part in the discussion
teilnehmen anWir nehmen an dem Wettbewerb teil.we take part in / join the competition
leiden anSie leidet an Allergien.she suffers from allergies
sterben anViele Menschen sterben an Hunger.many people die of hunger
hindern anDas Wetter hinderte uns an der Reise.the weather prevented the trip
zweifeln anEr zweifelt an ihrer Ehrlichkeit.he doubts her honesty
erkennen anIch erkenne ihn an der Stimme.I recognize him by his voice

b) Typical adjectives with Dativ

AdjektivExampleMeaning
arm anDie Region ist arm an Ressourcen.the region is poor in resources
reich anDiese Stadt ist reich an Geschichte.this city is rich in history
interessiert anEr ist sehr interessiert an moderner Kunst.he is very interested in modern art
schuld anWer ist schuld an dem Unfall?who is responsible for the accident

After these adjectives you usually have a noun in the dative: "arm an Ressourcen", "reich an Möglichkeiten".

2Verbs with "an" + Akkusativ

a) Common verbs

VerbExampleMeaning
sich erinnern anIch erinnere mich an unsere Reise nach Berlin.I remember our trip to Berlin
denken anSie denkt oft an die Zukunft.she often thinks about the future
glauben anViele Menschen glauben an das Gute im Menschen.many people believe in the good in people
schreiben anEr schrieb an seine Freundin.he wrote to his girlfriend
sich gewöhnen anIch gewöhne mich an das neue Leben.I am getting used to the new life
sich anpassen anWir passen uns an die neue Situation an.we adapt to the new situation
sich wenden anWenden Sie sich an den Kundenservice.contact customer service

b) Adjectives with Akkusativ

AdjektivExampleMeaning
gewöhnt anIch bin an das kalte Wetter gewöhnt.I am used to the cold weather
angewiesen auf/an*Sie ist an die Unterstützung ihrer Familie angewiesen.she depends on the support of her family

*"angewiesen auf" is more common than "angewiesen an"; here you see the pattern with "an".

3Typical mistakes to avoid

  1. Wrong case: learn each chunk as one unit: "denken an + Akkusativ", "teilnehmen an + Dativ".
  2. Do not forget the article: "an der Universität", "an dem Kurs" (often contracted to "am Kurs").
  3. Separable verbs: "teilnehmen", "sich anpassen" – the particle goes to the end of the clause: "Wir nehmen an dem Projekt teil.", "Wir passen uns an die Situation an."

Regularly use these chunks in your own sentences so that "an" with Dativ and Akkusativ becomes automatic.