in
in, inside (location) · into (direction) · in (time) · in (state or condition)
Means 'in' or 'into' and is used for locations, times, and states. It can take either the dative case (for location, answering 'where?') or the accusative case (for direction, answering 'where to?').
What in means
- in, inside (location) — with dative case, indicating where something is
- into (direction) — with accusative case, indicating movement toward the inside
- in (time) — with dative case, for months, seasons, or periods
- in (state or condition) — with dative case, in phrases like 'in Form' (in shape)
Heard in real German videos
Lines where in was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Genießt eure Zeit in Hollywood.Enjoy your time in Hollywood.
- Sind wir schon in Hollywood?Are we in Hollywood yet?
- Ich bin in Form.I'm in shape.
Example sentences
- Ich bin in der Schule.I am in the school.
- Ich gehe in die Schule.I go to school.
- Wir treffen uns in einer Stunde.We'll meet in an hour.
- Er ist in guter Form.He is in good shape.
Grammar
| Case | Dative (location) or Accusative (direction) |
|---|---|
| Contractions | im = in dem (dative), ins = in das (accusative) |
Use dative for location (wo?) and accusative for direction (wohin?).
Common phrases
- in Ordnungokay, alright
- in Formin shape
- im Momentat the moment
- in der Nähenearby
- in Zukunftin the future
The mistake English speakers make
Confusing dative and accusative after 'in'. Remember: dative for location (wo?), accusative for direction (wohin?).
Don’t confuse it with
Questions learners ask
When do I use 'in' with dative or accusative?
Use dative when there is no movement (location: 'Ich bin in der Schule') and accusative when there is movement toward the inside (direction: 'Ich gehe in die Schule').
What is the difference between 'in' and 'nach' for going to places?
Use 'in' for countries or cities with an article (e.g., 'in die Schweiz', 'in den Iran') and for enclosed places. Use 'nach' for countries or cities without an article (e.g., 'nach Deutschland', 'nach Berlin') and for directions like 'nach links'.
How do I say 'in the' in German?
It depends on case and gender: 'im' for dative masculine/neuter (in dem), 'in der' for dative feminine, 'in den' for dative plural, 'ins' for accusative neuter (in das), 'in den' for accusative masculine, and 'in die' for accusative feminine/plural. Note that 'in den' is used for both dative plural and accusative masculine.