Breakdown of Bist du dafür oder dagegen?
sein
to be
du
you (informal singular)
oder
or
dafür
for it
dagegen
against it
Questions & Answers about Bist du dafür oder dagegen?
Why do we say dafür and dagegen instead of "für es" and "gegen es"?
In German, when you want to combine a preposition like für (for) or gegen (against) with "it" (es), you can't just say für es or gegen es. Instead, you attach the prefix da- to the front of the preposition. So, "for it" becomes dafür and "against it" becomes dagegen.
Why isn't there an extra "r" added in these words, like there is in darauf?
The prefix is usually just da-. You only add an extra "r" (making it dar-) if the preposition starts with a vowel, like auf (darauf) or über (darüber), to make it easier to pronounce. Since für and gegen start with consonants (f and g), they just take the standard da-.
Can I use dafür and dagegen if I am talking about people, like "Are you for him or against him"?
No, da- compounds are only used for inanimate objects, concepts, or situations (meaning "it" or "them" for things). If you are talking about people, you must use the preposition followed by a regular personal pronoun. "Are you for him or against him?" would be Bist du für ihn oder gegen ihn?.
Is sein (to be) the only verb you can use with dafür and dagegen?
Not at all! However, dafür sein (to be for it / in favor) and dagegen sein (to be against it / opposed) are incredibly common fixed expressions in German. You will hear them constantly when asking for someone's opinion on a plan. You can easily use these words with other verbs too, such as Ich stimme dafür (I am voting for it).
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