The idea
Learn the complete construction um, including its Akkusativ complement. The preposition um belongs to the construction; do not infer its case from English. In a yes/no question the finite verb moves before the subject, while the complement keeps its case.
| Muster | Kasus |
|---|---|
| um | Akkusativ |
Repair the complement
Wir sitzen um dem Tisch.Wir sitzen um den Tisch.Um takes accusative even when people are sitting still around the table.
Examples
- Wir gehen um den kleinen See herum.We walk around the small lake.
- Gehen wir um den kleinen See herum?Do we walk around the small lake?
- Die Gruppe trifft sich um halb sechs am Eingang.The group meets at half past five at the entrance.
- Trifft die Gruppe sich um halb sechs am Eingang?Does the group meet at half past five at the entrance?
- Ich verschiebe den Termin um einen Tag.I postpone the appointment by one day.
- Verschiebe ich den Termin um einen Tag?Do I postpone the appointment by one day?
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Watch out
Um takes accusative even when people are sitting still around the table.
Try it yourself
um — Kasus der Ergänzung?
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Akkusativ
Akkusativ: this is the required case in um.
Korrigiere: Wir sitzen um dem Tisch.
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Wir sitzen um den Tisch.
Wir sitzen um den Tisch. Um takes accusative even when people are sitting still around the table.
Verwandle in eine Ja/Nein-Frage: Wir gehen um den kleinen See herum.
Show answer or example answer
Gehen wir um den kleinen See herum?
Gehen wir um den kleinen See herum? The finite verb comes first; the complement keeps its case.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
um — Kasus der Ergänzung?
Korrigiere: Wir sitzen um dem Tisch.
Wir sitzen um den Tisch.
Verwandle in eine Ja/Nein-Frage: Wir gehen um den kleinen See herum.
Gehen wir um den kleinen See herum?
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write two sentences about your own week with um: a statement and the matching yes/no question. The word order changes, but the complement stays in the Akkusativ; compare both with “Wir sitzen um den Tisch.”.