Präpositionalobjekts

A Präpositionalobjekt, or prepositional object, is a grammatical term used in German grammar. It refers to a part of a sentence that is introduced by a preposition and acts as an object to the verb. Unlike a direct object (Akkusativobjekt) or indirect object (Dativobjekt), the Präpositionalobjekt is defined by the specific preposition that must accompany certain verbs.

Many German verbs require a particular preposition when they take an object. For instance, the verb "denken" (to think) can be followed by "an" + Akkusativ, as in "Ich denke an dich" (I am thinking about you). Here, "an dich" is the Präpositionalobjekt. Similarly, "warten" (to wait) is often used with "auf" + Akkusativ, as in "Wir warten auf den Bus" (We are waiting for the bus). The preposition is not optional; omitting it would result in an ungrammatical sentence.

The case following the preposition in a Präpositionalobjekt is determined by the preposition itself. Some prepositions always govern the accusative case (e.g., "an," "auf," "für"), while others always govern the dative case (e.g., "mit," "von," "zu"). A few prepositions, known as two-way prepositions (Wechselpräpositionen), can take either the accusative or dative case depending on whether motion or a static location is indicated, but when they function as part of a Präpositionalobjekt, the verb dictates the required preposition, and thus implicitly the case. Identifying Präpositionalobjekte is crucial for constructing grammatically correct German sentences, as they are an integral part of a verb's valency.