Preposition + article contractions (A1) – German grammar

Some prepositions join with the article into one word: Ich gehe zum Arzt (zu + dem).

Learn first:Prepositions with the dative Prepositions with the accusative

Master list of A1 preposition contractions

Preposition + article	Contraction	Gender and case	Example sentence	English translation
an + dem	am	Masculine / Neuter (Dat.)	Wir treffen uns am Morgen.	We are meeting in the morning.
in + dem	im	Masculine / Neuter (Dat.)	Er arbeitet im Büro.	He works in the office.
in + das	ins	Neuter (Akk.)	Ich gehe ins Hotel.	I am going into the hotel.
zu + dem	zum	Masculine / Neuter (Dat.)	Ich gehe zum Arzt.	I am going to the doctor.
zu + der	zur	Feminine (Dat.)	Sie fährt zur Bank.	She is driving to the bank.
bei + dem	beim	Masculine / Neuter (Dat.)	Ich bin beim Essen.	I am at dinner / eating.

The main points

am (an + dem), im (in + dem), ins (in + das).
zum (zu + dem), zur (zu + der), beim, vom.
Short forms are normal German, not slang.
Long form when the article means "that one": in das Café.
No short form with ein: zu einem Arzt.

Part 1 of 4

When you use it

1
Places and directions in town
- Ich wohne im Zentrum von Leipzig.I live in the centre of Leipzig. (in + dem)
- Ich gehe zur Arbeit.I'm going to work. (zu + der)
To say where something is or where you are going, the short forms are the normal choice: am, im, zum, zur.
2
Going in, working at, coming from
- Wir gehen ins Kino.We're going to the cinema. (in + das)
- Ich arbeite beim Bäcker.I work at the baker's. (bei + dem)
ins = into a neuter place. beim = at a shop or company. vom = from a place or office.

The forms

Master list of A1 preposition contractions

Only dem and das join, and der after zu. Learn these eight.

Preposition + article	Contraction	Gender and case	Example sentence	English translation
an + dem	am	Masculine / Neuter (Dat.)	Wir treffen uns am Morgen.	We are meeting in the morning.
in + dem	im	Masculine / Neuter (Dat.)	Er arbeitet im Büro.	He works in the office.
in + das	ins	Neuter (Akk.)	Ich gehe ins Hotel.	I am going into the hotel.
zu + dem	zum	Masculine / Neuter (Dat.)	Ich gehe zum Arzt.	I am going to the doctor.
zu + der	zur	Feminine (Dat.)	Sie fährt zur Bank.	She is driving to the bank.
bei + dem	beim	Masculine / Neuter (Dat.)	Ich bin beim Essen.	I am at dinner / eating.

What to notice

Dative short forms end in -m or -r: am, im, zum, zur, beim, vom. Accusative ones end in -s: ins, ans.

Part 2 of 4

Step by step

1
Join preposition and article
Put the two words together as one word.
- zu + der = zur
- in + das = ins
2
Use the short form every day
Short forms are not slang. They are normal German in speech and writing. Some phrases only use them: am Montag, im Januar, zum Glück.
3
Long form for "that one"
When the article means "this one" or "that one", use the long form and stress the article.
- Wir gehen in das Café, nicht in das Café am Park.We're going to that café, not the café by the park.
4
Long form when "which one" follows
When a clause with das …, der … follows and says which place you mean, German usually keeps the long form.
- Ich wohne in dem Haus, das neben der Bank ist.I live in the house that is next to the bank.

Part 3 of 4

Common mistakes

~~Ich gehe zu dem Supermarkt.~~
Ich gehe zum Supermarkt.
Not wrong, but it sounds like "to that supermarket". In everyday German, say zum.
~~Ich gehe in das Kino.~~
Ich gehe ins Kino.
in + das becomes ins. The long form means "that cinema".
~~Ich fahre zu der Bank.~~
Ich fahre zur Bank.
zu + der becomes zur in normal speech.

Exceptions

Tap one to open it.

zu + der (feminine) = zur. zu + dem (masculine and neuter) = zum.
- Ich gehe zur Schule. Er geht zum Arzt.I go to school. He goes to the doctor.

Don't mix it up

Contraction or long form?

Use the short form by default. Use the long form only for "that one", or when a clause follows that says which place.

Form type	Example	When to use
Contraction (R14)	im Büro, ins Kino	Standard everyday speech and writing
Long form	in dem Büro, in das Kino	When the article is stressed and means "this / that", or when a relative clause follows (in dem Büro, das …)

Part 4 of 4

In real life

Wegbeschreibung (Giving directions)

In Leipzig, David asks a passer-by the way to a café. · Tap EN for English.

David
Entschuldigung, wie komme ich zum Café Mokka?
Passant
Gehen Sie hier geradeaus am Park vorbei, dann links ins Zentrum.
David
Und wo ist das Café?
Passant
Im Zentrum, direkt neben der Bank.
David
Vielen Dank! Und wie komme ich danach zur S-Bahn?
Passant
Die S-Bahn ist direkt beim Bahnhof. Gehen Sie einfach zum Haupteingang!

That's the whole topic.

Next topicTwo-way prepositions

Master list of A1 preposition contractions

The main points

When you use it

Places and directions in town

Going in, working at, coming from

The forms

Master list of A1 preposition contractions

Step by step

Join preposition and article

Use the short form every day

Long form for "that one"

Long form when "which one" follows

Common mistakes

Exceptions

Don't mix it up

Contraction or long form?

In real life

Sources