#Differentiating Prepositions

14 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

storm geode
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Just relax; most of these questions aren't as difficult to be answered, nor are too hard to google
e.g. german has ca. 50 prepositions; english is worse here

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limpid scaffold
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The main advice is that you're not supposed to learn prepositions by comparing "X vs Y". There are some situations where that might be relevant, but you're generally meant to learn prepositions by context.

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Like "what preposition do I use when I talk about taking a bus?"

storm geode
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Anyway, I'll only answer to 3. ; The difference between nach and zu is simple: zu is a locational preposition (on, at, in etc.), whereas nach means usually towards (geh' nach dieser Direktion, for example); it's used for country, town etc. destinations as well (ich gehe nach Frankfurt, Deutschland etc.)
(N.b. Meiner Meinung nach = In my opinion ; not to be compared with zu, nach can also mean "according to", and can act as a postposition or preposition interchangeably; nach meiner Meinung is also normal)

Just a note: It would take quite a bit of time to answer to every question you have put here, even if I knew the answer for every of these

bold wing
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Oh, sorry about that! And thanks!

rapid sandal
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@bold wing I appreciate this question and the answers to it, as I am also stuck on prepositions. @storm geode

shadow aspen
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As to those question Basementality's answer doesn't apply to: 6. They are identical. I'd recommend just using "statt" (and mentally replacing "anstatt" with "statt" whenever it appears). 5. You're right as to statt/anstatt = instead, but "trotz" is a preposition (requiring Genitiv) = in spite of + noun -> Trotz meiner Müdigkeit arbeite ich weiter = In spite of my tiredness, I keep working. vs. Ich bin müde. Trotzdem arbeite ich weiter. = I'm tired. In-spite-of-this I keep working.

limpid scaffold
shadow aspen
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  1. "als" has various uses. I really recommend learning about its different meanings/uses as/when they come up in your course/course book - much like prepositions. 🌻
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As a side note, please try to see the following 2 fixed expressions as totally separate things unrelated to anything else/any other use of "zu" or "nach": 1. "zu Hause/zuhause sein" = to be at home; to be in your house. If you are at somebody else's home, it's "Ich bin bei X (Dativ) zu Hause/zuhause" 2. "nach Hause gehen/fahren" = to go/walk/drive home.

bold wing
bold wing