Joined Preposition & Pronouns

01

Standard Contractions

These forms are standard in both written and spoken German. They are generally preferred over the separated forms unless you need to place specific emphasis on the article.

Dative Contractions (Location or Indirect Object)

• an + dem becomes am (at the / on the)
• bei + dem becomes beim (at the / by the / with the)
• in + dem becomes im (in the)
• von + dem becomes vom (from the / of the)
• zu + dem becomes zum (to the)
• zu + der becomes zur (to the)

• Er sitzt am Tisch.

  He is sitting at the table.

• Ich bin beim Arzt.

  I am at the doctor's.

• Wir kommen gerade vom Flughafen.

  We are coming from the airport right now.

Accusative Contractions (Movement or Direct Object)

• an + das becomes ans (to the / onto the)
• in + das becomes ins (into the)

• Wir gehen ins Kino.

  We are going to the cinema.

• Häng das Bild bitte ans Fenster.

  Please hang the picture on the window.

02

Distinguishing Location and Movement

Because prepositions like in and an are "two-way prepositions" (changing case based on movement), the contraction used tells you whether something is static or moving.

Static (Dative): Use im or am. This indicates a fixed location.

• Das Buch ist im Auto.

  The book is in the car.

Movement (Accusative): Use ins or ans. This indicates movement towards or into a place.

• Ich lege das Buch ins Auto.

  I am putting the book into the car.

03

When NOT to Contract

While contractions are the default, you must separate the preposition and the article if you are using the article as a demonstrative pronoun (equivalent to "that" or "this" specific one). Separating the words adds emphasis to the noun.

General Statement (Contracted)

• Ich gehe zur Bank.

  I am going to the bank. (Any bank, or the usual one).

Specific Emphasis (Separated)

• Ich gehe zu der Bank, nicht zu dieser.

  I am going to that bank, not to this one.

• In dem Haus wohnt niemand.

  In that house, nobody lives.

04

Colloquial and Spoken Forms

In spoken German, you will frequently hear other contractions involving das. While these are acceptable in text messages or casual emails, they are often avoided in formal writing.

• auf + das becomes aufs (onto the)
• für + das becomes fürs (for the)
• um + das becomes ums (around the)

• Gehen wir aufs Dach?

  Shall we go onto the roof?

• Das ist fürs Baby.

  That is for the baby.