Ich speichere das PDF auf dem Computer.

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Breakdown of Ich speichere das PDF auf dem Computer.

• auf: on
• der Computer: the computer
• speichern: to save

Questions & Answers about Ich speichere das PDF auf dem Computer.

Why is the preposition auf used with dem Computer here instead of another preposition like in?

German prepositions often determine the case based on whether you indicate location (Wo?) or direction (Wohin?).

• auf
  • dative (dem Computer) → static location: “on the computer.”
• auf
  • accusative → direction: “onto the computer.”
    We’re talking about where the PDF is stored, not moving it into the computer, so we use dative with auf.

Why is it dem Computer and not den Computer?

The masculine article der changes to dem in the dative case. Since auf here takes the dative (static location), der Computer → dem Computer.

Why do we say das PDF? Is PDF really neuter in German?

Yes. PDF stands for Portable Document Format; in German, that acronym is treated as a neuter noun, so you use das PDF.

Can I say abspeichern instead of speichern, and what’s the difference?