Questions & Answers about Wir denken nie an das Wetter.
Why do we use an instead of über for "about"?
English speakers say "think about," making über seem like the logical choice. However, German uses fixed verb-preposition pairings. The verb denken pairs specifically with an to mean "think of" or "think about." You just have to learn denken an as a set phrase.
Why is das Wetter in the accusative case here? Doesn't an usually change based on motion or location?
You are remembering the rule for two-way prepositions! However, when a preposition is fixed to a specific verb (like denken an), the motion/location rule goes out the window. For denken an, the following object must always be in the accusative case. Since Wetter is a neuter noun, its accusative form is just das Wetter.
Can I combine an and das into ans in this sentence?
Yes, absolutely! You will very often hear and read Wir denken nie ans Wetter. Contracting an and das into ans is completely correct and very natural in everyday German.
Why is nie placed before an das Wetter?
In German word order, adverbs of time or frequency (like nie, meaning "never") typically come after the conjugated verb but before the prepositional object. So nie steps in right before the an das Wetter block.
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