Home >Prepositions >The Preposition 'auf' in German

2 'auf' as a locative preposition (on top/on with contact)
5 Grammar of 'auf'

The meaning of 'auf' in German

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on, near, during

The prepositionauf forms part of the group of prepositions that can be used in the accusative or dative, depending on the context.

'auf' as a locative preposition (on top/on with contact)

The thing that stands out most about 'auf' as a locative preposition is that it can be dative or accusative depending on the type of clause

Grammar:

'auf' takes dative

Auf is used with dative if the circumstantial complement of place implies location (without movement)

Ich bin auf der Insel
I am on the island

'auf' takes accusative

Auf is used with the accusative if the circumstantial complement of place implies direction (with movement)

Ich fliege auf die Insel
I’m flying to the island

Use of 'auf' as a locative preposition

auf means on top/on (with contact) in general:

Der Computer steht auf dem Tisch
The computer is on top of the table

If there were no contact, über would be used.

Germans use auf in the following contexts:

with islands

Ich fliege auf die Kanarischen Inseln
I’m flying to the Canary Islands

with open spaces as “die Straße” (the street) or “die Terrasse” (the terrace)

Ich warte auf der Straße
I’m waiting on the street

Wir haben auf der Terrasse gegessen
We ate on the terrace

Exceptions: der Garten (the garden), der Park (the park) and der Wald (the forest), the preposition in is used.

with public areas: Markt (market), Post (post office), Bank (bank), Rathaus (city hall)

Ich bin auf der Bank
I’m in the bank

with events such as parties, congresses, etc.

Bist du auf der Party?
Are you at the party?

with the word 'Seite' (page)

Sie finden auf dieser Seite Informationen über die deutsche Kultur
You will find information about the German culture on this page

'auf' as a modal preposition

Ich habe es auf meine Weise getan
I did it my way

Das geht auf meine Rechnung
This goes on my bill

Was bedeutet das auf Deutsch?
What does this mean in German?

Expressions:

Auf jeden Fall
In any case

Verbs with the preposition 'auf'

The most important verbs with the preposition 'auf' are:

absetzen auf(to set down on)
achten auf(to pay attention to)
achtgeben auf(to look out for)
anstoßen auf(to toast for)
antworten auf(to reply to)
ausweisen auf(to expel from)
sich freuen auf(to be happy about)
warten auf(to wait for)
zielen auf(to aim for)
zuschießen auf(to hurdle toward, pounce on)

Grammar of 'auf'

Declension of 'auf'

Auf does not change, just like all the prepositions.

'aufs' Contraction

'aufs' is the contaction of 'auf' + 'das'.

Next Lessons:

Auf Deutschland

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5 Comments

hii you helped me a lot and can you please explain , what is the difference in meaning between these sentences ' ich bin in der bank / post ' und ' ich bin auf der bank / post' . in which situation 'in' is interchangable with ' auf ' ??????

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