lesson 7.2

Hi All

In lesson 7.2 

Lena sitzt ​neben ​mir. 

In the previous sentence mich is used instead of mir. I believe neben takes dative in location

Both sentences are translated as “me”

Why the difference

Maxie

Hallo Maxie, 

in German, neben can take both the dative or accusative case. Accusative is used to express a movement/a direction from one place to another. Dative is used when there is a static position/no movement. The pronouns mich (accusative) and mir (dative) change to match the case. 

The first sentence indicates a movement towards the other person:

Setz dich neben mich. - Sit down next to me.

Here, you are asking the other person change their position in order to sit next to you. 

The second sentence expresses a static location:

Lena sitzt neben mir. - Lena is sitting next to me.

Here, Lena is already sitting next to you and not changing her position. There is no movement. 

Hope this helps!

Viele Grüße,

Julia

Hi  Julia

Thank you. I knew that neben zwischen and uebergegen take both. Just didn't pick up the nuance of static and movement in those sentences. Thank you for clearing those differences up, helps put it all into more perspective and understanding

Maxie

Hi Julia

Just realized i switched gegen and ueber . It did look strange to me, but couldn't work out why. 

Now I know. it is gegenuber (")

Well I guess that is how we learn, by making mistakes at times

Maxie

Hi Maxie, 

Actually, gegenüber requires the dative case while just über can take both. Gegen, on the other hand, requires the dative case. So, not confusing at all!

But you're exactly right, we all learn from making mistakes and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. You're doing great!

Tschüss!

Julia