As you read in the Redemittel and have heard in the dialogues, you need to use lots of prepositions when giving directions. This can be very confusing because when we use prepositions in German to give directions or describe where people are going, some prepositions take the accusative case and others take the dative case. This means that the articles are changed to their accusative or dative forms. Here are some common examples. It is best to try to memorize these as expressions.

Wohin gehen die Touristen?

• in, durch, über, entlang + Accusative

Die Touristen laufen den Fluss entlang. (The tourists walk along the river.)

Die Touristen gehen ins Museum. (The tourists are going to the museum.)

• zu, an…vorbei, bis zu… + Dative

Die Touristen gehen an der Kirche vorbei. (The tourists are walking past the church.)

Die Touristen gehen zum Bahnhof. (The tourists are going to the train station.)

*Achtung* Here are common contractions (preposition and article squeezed together):

ins = in das

zum = zu dem

zur = zu der

am = an dem