In German, definite articles and prepositions often combine through contraction, a process called cliticization, where unstressed articles merge with prepositions. This phenomenon is akin to contractions in English, such as “don’t” and “haven’t.” However, in German, only certain definite articles like “dem,” “das,” and “der” can contract. To form these contracted forms, simply append the last letter of the definite article to the preposition, except for prepositions ending in ‘n’ like “in,” “an,” and “von,” which replace ‘n’ with ‘m’ when combined with “dem.” Here’s a list of these contracted forms:
an das = ans / an dem = am (on the; at the)
auf das = aufs (on the)
bei dem = beim (with the; at the)
durch das = durchs (through the; because of the)
für das = fürs (for the)
hinter dem = hinterm / hinter das = hinters (behind the)
in das = ins / in dem = im (in the)
über das = übers / über dem = überm (over the; about the)
um das = ums (around the)
unter das = unters / unter dem = unterm (under the)
von dem = vom (from the; of the)
vor das = vors / vor dem = vorm (in front of the; before the)
zu dem = zum / zu der = zur (to the; towards the)
Here are some sample sentences to assist you in identifying when to use a contracted form of a preposition and a definite article and when not to. In section a., sentences contain contracted forms because the definite article is unstressed. In section b., sentences lack contracted forms because the definite article needs to be stressed when referring to specific objects.
a. Hinterm Haus gibt es einen Spielplatz. – There is a playground behind the house.
b. Hinter dem Haus, in dem ich wohne, gibt es einen Spielplatz. – There is a playground behind the house, in which I live.
a. Ich gehe gerne im Park spazieren. – I like to take a walk in the park.
b. Ich gehe gerne in dem Park vor meinem Haus spazieren. – I like to go for a walk in the park, which is in front on my house.
a. Sie zeigte mit dem Finger aufs Bild. – She pointed her finger at the picture.
b. Sie zeigte mit dem Finger auf das Bild mit den Blumen. – She pointed her finger at the picture with the flowers
