Exhaustive Guide to German Verb Prepositions and Usage
German Verbs and Prepositions: The Dative Case (VON and MIT)
The transcript outlines a comprehensive list of German verbs that require the dative case when paired with specific prepositions, beginning with the preposition von. Each entry includes the Italian translation and the required case. The following verbs are categorized under von + dative:
Abhängen von + dat: This verb translates to "dipendere da" (to depend on).
Abschreiben von + dat: This translates to "copiare qc. da qu." (to copy something from someone).
Erzählen von + dat: Used to mean "raccontare qc." (to tell or narrate something).
Handeln von + dat: This means "trattare qc." (to be about/deal with something).
Reden von + dat: This translates to "parlare di" (to talk about).
Sprechen von + dat: Similar to reden, this means "parlare di" (to speak of).
Träumen von + dat: This translates to "sognare qc./qu." (to dream of something or someone).
Überzeugen von + dat: Meaning "convincersi" (to convince oneself or be convinced of).
Verabschieden, sich von + dat: This reflexive verb means "congedarsi" (to say goodbye to).
Halten von + dat: This expression is used to mean "pensare qc. di qu." (to think/have an opinion of something/someone).
Profitieren von + dat: This translates to "trarre vantaggio da" (to benefit or profit from).
The second major category of dative-governed verbs involves the preposition mit. Note the date marker of associated with this section:
Anfangen mit + dat: Translates to "iniziare qc." (to start something).
Beschäftigen, sich mit + dat: This means "occuparsi di" (to occupy oneself with/deal with).
Handeln mit + dat: Distinct from handeln von, this means "commerciare con" (to trade with).
Meinen mit + dat: This translates to "intendere con" (to mean by).
Telefonieren mit + dat: This means "telefonare a qu." (to talk on the phone with someone).
Verabreden, sich mit + dat: This means "darsi appuntamento con" (to make an appointment/date with).
Verheiratet sein mit + dat: Used for "essere sposato con" (to be married to).
Verstehen, sich mit + dat: This translates to "andare d'accordo con/capirsi con" (to get along with someone).
Ausstatten mit + dat: Used as "dotare qu. di qc." (to equip someone with something).
Enden mit + dat: This means "concludere con" (to end with).
Verbs with Accusative Prepositions: AUF and ÜBER
Moving to the accusative case, the notes detail verbs paired with auf + accusative. These verbs often imply a direction or future focus:
Antworten auf + acc: This means "rispondere a qu." (to answer/respond to).
Freuen, sich auf + acc: This is specifically used for the future tense to mean "essere felici per/di" (to look forward to).
Konzentrieren, sich auf + acc: This translates to "concentrarsi su" (to concentrate on).
Verzichten auf + acc: This means "rinunciare a" (to renounce or do without).
Warten auf + acc: Used for "attendere qc./qu." (to wait for something/someone).
Vorbereiten, sich auf + acc: This translates to "prepararsi per qc." (to prepare for something).
The preposition über + accusative is frequently used with verbs of communication or emotional reaction:
Ärgern, sich über + acc: This translates to "arrabbiarsi per qc." (to get angry about something).
Beschweren, sich über + acc: This means "lamentarsi per qc." (to complain about something).
Freuen, sich über + acc: Unlike auf, this is used for the present or past to mean "essere felice per/di" (to be happy about something that happened).
Informieren, sich über + acc: This translates to "informarsi di" (to inform oneself about).
Nachdenken über + acc: This means "riflettere su" (to reflect or think about).
Reden über + acc: Used for "parlare di" (to talk about).
Schreiben über + acc: This translates to "scrivere di" (to write about).
Sprechen über + acc: Meaning "parlare di" (to speak about).
Einigen, sich über + acc: This translates to "mettersi d'accordo su qc." (to agree on something).
Verbs with BEI, AN, ZU, and Other Prepositions
The notes include several other prepositional patterns involving both the dative and accusative cases. The category bei + dative includes:
Bedanken, sich bei + dat: This means "ringraziare qu." (to thank someone).
Entschuldigen, sich bei + dat: This means "scusarsi con qu." (to apologize to someone).
Helfen bei + dat: Used for "aiutare qu. in qc." (to help someone with something).
Erkundigen, sich bei + dat + nach + dat: This double construction means "chiedere notizie a qu. su qc." (to inquire of someone about something).
The preposition an can take either the accusative or dative depending on the verb:
Denken an + acc: Translates to "pensare a" (to think of).
Erinnern, sich an + acc: This means "ricordarsi di" (to remember).
Gewöhnen, sich an + acc: Note the change in case; this means "abituarsi a" (to get used to).
Glauben an + acc: Translates to "credere a/in" (to believe in).
Grenzen an + acc: This means "confinare con" (to border on).
Leiden an + dat: Described as an exception, this translates to "soffrire di" (to suffer from a specific illness).
Schreiben + acc + (an + acc): This means "scrivere qc. (a qu.)" (to write something to someone).
Teilnehmen an + dat: This translates to "partecipare a" (to participate in).
Verbs using zu + dative include:
Einladen zu + dat: This translates to "invitare a" (to invite to).
Gehören zu + dat: Meaning "fare parte di" (to belong to/be part of).
Gratulieren zu + dat: This means "fare gli auguri per" (to congratulate on).
Passen zu + dat: This translates to "essere adatto a" (to fit/suit).
Überreden zu + dat: Meaning "convincere qu. a fare qc." (to persuade someone to do something).
UM, FÜR, GEGEN, and Complex Verb Structures
The preposition um + accusative is used in the following contexts:
Es geht um + acc: This idiom translates to "si tratta di" (it is about/the matter is).
Bitten um + acc: Used for "chiedere qc. a qu." (to ask/request something from someone).
Kümmern, sich um + acc: This means "occuparsi di/curare" (to take care of).
Verbs using für + accusative include:
Danken für + acc: This translates to "ringraziare qu. per qc." (to thank for something).
Entscheiden, sich für + acc: Meaning "decidere a/per" (to decide on/for).
Interessieren, sich für + acc: This means "interessarsi di" (to be interested in).
Additional prepositions include:
Protestieren gegen + acc: Translates to "protestare contro" (to protest against).
Verlieben, sich in + acc: This means "innamorarsi" (to fall in love with).
Finally, the notes highlight verbs that utilize two prepositions simultaneously or have specific idiomatic structures:
Bedanken, sich bei + dat für + acc: "Ringraziare qu. per qc."
Diskutieren über + acc mit + dat: "Discutere di qc. con qu."
Es kommt auf + acc an: This is an idiomatic expression that means "dipende da" (it depends on).
Dialogue Examples and Linguistic Applications
The final section of the notes, dated , provides practical dialogue examples to illustrate how these prepositional structures function in conversation.
Usage of Sprechen über + Accusative:
Statement: "Wir sprechen über den Austausch." (Parliamo dello scambio / We are talking about the exchange).
Question (Person): "Über wen sprecht ihr? Über Arnoldi?" (Di chi parlate? Di Arnoldi? / Who are you talking about? Arnoldi?).
Answer: "Ja, über ihn." (Sì, di lui / Yes, about him).
Extension: "Parliamo dell'insegnante di storia." translates to "Wir sprechen über den Geschichtslehrer."
Question (Object): "Worüben sprecht ihr? Über den Austausch?" (Di cosa parlate? Dello scambio? / What are you talking about? The exchange?).
Answer: "Ja, darüber." (Sì, di quello / Yes, about that).
Usage of Denken an + Accusative:
Statement: "Ich denke an die Ferien." (Penso alle vacanze / I am thinking of the holidays).
Question (Object): "Woran denkst du? An die Ferien?" (A cosa pensi? Alle vacanze? / What are you thinking of? The holidays?).
Answer: "Ja, daran." (Sì, a quello / Yes, of that).
Question (Person): "An wen denkst du? An deinen Freund?" (A chi pensi? Al tuo amico? / Who are you thinking of? Your friend?).
Answer: "Ja, an ihn." (Sì, a lui / Yes, of him).
Usage of Teilnehmen an + Dative:
Question (Object): "Woran nimmst du teil? An dem Nähkurs?" (A cosa partecipi? Al corso di cucito? / What are you participating in? The sewing course?).
Answer: "Ja, daran." (Sì, a quello / Yes, in that).
Past Tense: "Woran hast du teilgenommen? An dem Nähkurs?" (A cosa hai partecipato? / What did you participate in?). Answer: "Ja, daran."
Usage of Sich Verlieben in + Accusative:
Question: "In wen hast du dich verliebt? In Francesco?" (Di chi ti sei innamorato? Di Francesco? / Who did you fall in love with? Francesco?).
Answer: "Ja, in ihn." (Sì, di lui / Yes, with him).
Fragmentary Data and Contextual Notes
A small section of the transcript contains fragmentary information possibly related to a business or social study context, captured here for completeness:
Profit was reported to have reached a value of million.
This figure was expected to be a significant number of interest.
A study regarding password safety found that "123456" remains the most commonly used password.
In this study, the password was used by more than individuals or within a specific group threshold.
Mention of "Many influencers" and the date "February" appearing in a consolidated structure regarding falling costs of per year.