German · A2 · Family moment
Everything Has Space in German
Help your child describe where project materials are stored. Use in, auf, neben and unter with the dative case to talk about where things are.
What you'll learn
- Name familiar places for storing project materials.
- Describe locations using in, auf, neben and unter.
- Use dem and der after these prepositions when answering Wo? (Where?).
German phrases for everything has space
Dein Projekt ist im Wohnzimmer.
Your project is in the living room.
Im is short for in dem. Wohnzimmer is neuter: das Wohnzimmer.
Die Schere ist in der Schublade.
The scissors are in the drawer.
German uses the singular die Schere for one pair of scissors, so use ist. Die Schublade becomes der Schublade after in here.
Dein Heft liegt auf dem Tisch.
Your notebook is on the table.
Liegt means 'is lying' and is natural for a notebook resting on a surface. Der Tisch becomes dem Tisch.
Die Farbe ist auf der Kiste.
The paint is on the box.
Auf means 'on'. Die Kiste becomes der Kiste when describing its role as a location.
Dein Rucksack ist neben dem Schreibtisch.
Your backpack is next to the desk.
Neben means 'next to'. Der Schreibtisch becomes dem Schreibtisch.
Das Poster ist neben der Tür.
The poster is next to the door.
Die Tür becomes der Tür after neben when describing a location.
Deine Sporttasche ist unter dem Bett.
Your sports bag is under the bed.
Unter means 'under'. Das Bett becomes dem Bett. Use deine with the feminine noun Sporttasche.
Die Zeitungen liegen unter der Bank.
The newspapers are under the bench.
Zeitungen is plural, so use liegen. Die Bank becomes der Bank after unter here.
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
das Wohnzimmer
the living room
Location phrase: im Wohnzimmer.
die Schublade
the drawer
Location phrase: in der Schublade.
das Heft
the notebook; the exercise book
Usually a thin notebook used for writing or schoolwork.
die Farbe
the paint; the color
In this project-storage context, it means paint.
die Kiste
the box; the crate
Often used for a sturdy storage box.
der Schreibtisch
the desk
A table used for writing, studying or working.
die Sporttasche
the sports bag
Use deine Sporttasche for 'your sports bag' when speaking to your child.
die Bank
the bench
Here it means a seat, not a financial institution.
Where is it? Use the dative
In, auf, neben and unter are two-way prepositions. Use the dative when describing where something is: Wo? (Where?). Use the accusative instead when describing movement to a destination.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| in | in + dative | Die Schere ist in der Schublade. — The scissors are in the drawer. |
| on | auf + dative | Dein Heft liegt auf dem Tisch. — Your notebook is on the table. |
| next to | neben + dative | Das Poster ist neben der Tür. — The poster is next to the door. |
| under | unter + dative | Deine Sporttasche ist unter dem Bett. — Your sports bag is under the bed. |
Choosing dem or der
Choose the dative article from the gender of the location noun, not the object being stored. Masculine and neuter singular nouns use dem; feminine singular nouns use der.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | der → dem | der Tisch → auf dem Tisch — on the table |
| Neuter | das → dem | das Bett → unter dem Bett — under the bed |
| Feminine | die → der | die Tür → neben der Tür — next to the door |
| Common contraction | in dem → im | im Wohnzimmer — in the living room |
Verbs for describing locations
Sein (to be) gives a general location. Liegen describes something lying or resting, such as a notebook or newspapers. Both can describe stationary locations.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| One thing | ist / liegt | Das Heft liegt auf dem Tisch. — The notebook is on the table. |
| More than one thing | sind / liegen | Die Zeitungen liegen unter der Bank. — The newspapers are under the bench. |
More examples
Wo ist dein Heft?
Where is your notebook?
Use Wo? to ask about a location.
Es liegt auf dem Tisch.
It is on the table.
Es refers to the neuter noun das Heft.
Ist deine Sporttasche unter dem Bett?
Is your sports bag under the bed?
Put ist first to make a yes-or-no question.
Ja, sie ist unter dem Bett.
Yes, it is under the bed.
Sie refers to the feminine noun die Sporttasche.