zu + place

Motion toward: Ich gehe zur Arbeit. zum Bahnhof (zu dem).

in + dative (where)

Ich bin im Büro. (in dem)

auf + dative

Surfaces/events: Ich bin auf der Post.

zu Hause / nach Hause

zu Hause = at home; nach Hause = (toward) home as direction.

Practice

Write six sentences: three static (bin + dative) and three motion (gehe + accusative) with the same place nouns.

Practical Examples

1. Ich bin im Haus.

• I am in the house.
• Usage note: Use "im Haus" (in dem Haus) when referring to being inside a building.

1. Bist du in der Wohnung?

• Are you in the apartment?
• Usage note: Use "in der Wohnung" when referring to being inside an apartment.

1. Wir sind nicht im Haus, wir sind draußen.

• We are not in the house, we are outside.
• Usage note: Negation for being inside a building.

1. Sie ist zu Hause.

• She is at home.
• Usage note: "Zu Hause" is a fixed expression for being at home (location).

1. Seid ihr zu Hause?

• Are you at home?
• Usage note: Question asking about someone's location at home.

1. Ich gehe jetzt nach Hause.

• I am going home now.
• Usage note: "Nach Hause" is used for movement towards home (direction).

1. Fährst du nach Hause?

• Are you driving home?
• Usage note: Question about movement towards home.

1. Die Kinder sind in der Schule.

• The children are at school.
• Usage note: "In der Schule" is used for being at the institution "school," usually inside the building.

1. Lernst du gerne in der Schule?

• Do you like learning at school?
• Usage note: Used for activities taking place at the school institution.

1. Er ist heute nicht in der Schule.

• He is not at school today.
• Usage note: Negation for being at school.

1. Wir gehen zur Schule.

• We are going to school.
• Usage note: "Zur Schule" (zu der Schule) is used for movement towards the institution "school" (direction).

1. Gehst du morgen zur Schule?

• Are you going to school tomorrow?
• Usage note: Question about movement towards school.

1. Die Schüler spielen auf dem Schulhof.

• The students are playing on the schoolyard.
• Usage note: "Auf dem Schulhof" is used for being on an open area or surface like a yard.

1. Der Lehrer ist im Klassenzimmer.

• The teacher is in the classroom.
• Usage note: "Im Klassenzimmer" (in dem Klassenzimmer) is used for being inside a specific room.

1. Sind wir im Klassenzimmer oder auf dem Schulhof?

• Are we in the classroom or on the schoolyard?
• Usage note: Combines two specific locations at school, one inside and one on a surface.