Nouns and Fixed Prepositions
Just as certain verbs require specific prepositions to connect to an object, many nouns do, too. When you use one of these nouns, you must learn its matching preposition.
Crucially, the preposition will always dictate the case of the noun or pronoun that follows it. For example, die Begeisterung (enthusiasm) pairs with the preposition für, which always requires the accusative case.
Asking Questions: "Wo-" Words
To ask a question like "For what?", you do not say für was. Instead, when asking about a thing or an abstract concept, you combine wo + the preposition.
Pronouns for Things: "Da-" Words
Similarly, to say "in it" or "for it" (when referring to a concept or thing, not a person), you use da + the preposition. If the preposition begins with a vowel, like an, you must insert an "r" to make it easier to say (daran).
Questions About People
Remember that wo- and da- words are strictly for inanimate objects and concepts! If you want to ask about a person, you use the preposition followed by wen (for the accusative case) or wem (for the dative case).
Common Preposition Pairings
Here is a quick reference for the other nouns in this lesson and the prepositions and cases they require. Notice how über also requires an inserted "r" when forming a wo- word (worüber), because it starts with a vowel.
- um (+ Accusative): der Hype, der Kult
- nach (+ Dative): die Sehnsucht
- über (+ Accusative): die Enttäuschung
- von (+ Dative): die Abhängigkeit