UNIT NINE
Unit 9 Verbs and prepositions
Verbs and prepositions in English and German
In German as in English many verbs are followed by a preposition:Wir sprechen überden Film.
We talk aboutthe film.Sie entschuldigt sich fürdie Verspätung.
She apologises for the delay.Although German prepositions used in connection with a verb might
sometimes correspond to the English as with sprechenüber‘to talk about’,
there is often no correlation between the two languages:Ich warte aufden Bus.
I am waiting forthe bus.Sie entschuldigt sichbeiihrer Schwester.
She apologises toher sister.Prepositions and cases
In German, prepositions require certain cases. Articles, possessives or
other words following a verb+prepositionconstruction therefore usually
take the accusative or dative case endings (auf denBusacc.,bei ihrer
Schwesterdat.etc.).