Topic 13A1beginner⏱️ 15 min read

Common Contractions

Häufige Verschmelzungen

🎯 What You'll Learn

✓Understand how prepositions combine with articles
✓Use common contractions like zum, zur, im, ins correctly
✓Recognize when contractions are mandatory vs. optional
✓Apply contractions naturally in everyday German

📖 Introduction

In German, certain prepositions and articles frequently combine into single words called contractions (Verschmelzungen). These are essential for natural-sounding German and some are mandatory in certain contexts.

💡 Explanation

German contractions combine a preposition with a definite article (der, die, das, dem, den). While some contractions are optional, others are so common that using the separate words sounds unnatural.

Most Common Contractions: - zu + dem = zum (to the, masculine/neuter dative) - zu + der = zur (to the, feminine dative) - in + dem = im (in the, masculine/neuter dative) - in + das = ins (into the, neuter accusative) - an + dem = am (at/on the, masculine/neuter dative) - an + das = ans (to the, neuter accusative) - bei + dem = beim (at/during, masculine/neuter dative) - von + dem = vom (from the, masculine/neuter dative)

📋 Key Rules

zum (zu + dem) - to the (masculine/neuter)

Use 'zum' when going to a masculine or neuter location/person in dative case.

Examples:

• Ich gehe zum Arzt. (I'm going to the doctor.)
• Wir fahren zum Bahnhof. (We're driving to the train station.)
• Er geht zum Supermarkt. (He's going to the supermarket.)

zur (zu + der) - to the (feminine)

Use 'zur' when going to a feminine location/person in dative case.

Examples:

• Ich gehe zur Schule. (I'm going to school.)
• Sie fährt zur Arbeit. (She's driving to work.)
• Wir gehen zur Post. (We're going to the post office.)

im (in + dem) - in the

Use 'im' for being inside a masculine or neuter location (dative case).

Examples:

• Ich bin im Büro. (I'm in the office.)
• Das Buch ist im Regal. (The book is on the shelf.)
• Wir sind im Kino. (We're in the cinema.)

ins (in + das) - into the

Use 'ins' when moving into a neuter location (accusative case).

Examples:

• Ich gehe ins Kino. (I'm going into the cinema.)
• Er geht ins Bett. (He's going to bed.)
• Wir fahren ins Zentrum. (We're driving into the center.)

am (an + dem) - at/on the

Use 'am' for being at a location or on a date (dative case).

Examples:

• Ich bin am Bahnhof. (I'm at the train station.)
• Das Bild hängt am Fenster. (The picture hangs at the window.)
• Am Montag habe ich Zeit. (On Monday I have time.)

ans (an + das) - to the (accusative)

Use 'ans' when moving toward a neuter noun (accusative case).

Examples:

• Ich gehe ans Fenster. (I'm going to the window.)
• Er stellt die Vase ans Fenster. (He puts the vase by the window.)
• Komm ans Telefon! (Come to the phone!)

📝 Examples in Context

🇩🇪 Ich muss zum Zahnarzt gehen.

🇬🇧 I have to go to the dentist.

💡 zum = zu + dem (Zahnarzt is masculine)

📚 zum combines the preposition 'zu' (to) with the article 'dem' (the, dative)

🇩🇪 Sie geht zur Uni.

🇬🇧 She's going to university.

💡 zur = zu + der (Uni/Universität is feminine)

📚 zur combines 'zu' (to) with 'der' (the, feminine dative)

🇩🇪 Wir treffen uns am Hauptbahnhof.

🇬🇧 We're meeting at the main train station.

💡 am = an + dem (Bahnhof is masculine, dative for location)

📚 am combines 'an' (at) with 'dem' (the, dative)

🇩🇪 Die Kinder spielen im Park.

🇬🇧 The children are playing in the park.

💡 im = in + dem (Park is masculine, dative for location)

📚 im indicates being inside or at a location

🇩🇪 Kommst du heute Abend ins Kino?

🇬🇧 Are you coming to the cinema tonight?

💡 ins = in + das (Kino is neuter, accusative for direction)

📚 ins shows movement into a location

🧠 Memory Tips

💡 Location vs. Direction Pattern

Use 'im' (in + dem) when you're already there, 'ins' (in + das) when you're going there. Think: 'im' = inside, 'ins' = into.

💡 The 'zum/zur' Destination Rule

When going somewhere, it's almost always zum (masculine/neuter) or zur (feminine). Listen for the gender: der Arzt → zum Arzt, die Schule → zur Schule.

💡 Time expressions with 'am'

Days and times of day use 'am': am Montag (on Monday), am Morgen (in the morning), am Wochenende (on the weekend).

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌

Ich gehe zu dem Arzt.

✅

Ich gehe zum Arzt.

❌

Wir sind in dem Kino.

✅

Wir sind im Kino.

❌

Sie fährt zu der Arbeit.

✅

Sie fährt zur Arbeit.

✏️ Practice Sentences

Ich gehe jeden Tag zum Training.

I go to training every day.

📚 zum = zu + dem (Training is neuter)

Wir fahren am Wochenende ans Meer.

We're driving to the sea on the weekend.

📚 am = an + dem (time), ans = an + das (direction to neuter noun)

Die Katze sitzt im Garten.

The cat is sitting in the garden.

📚 im = in + dem (location, Garten is masculine)

Kommst du mit ins Restaurant?

Are you coming with us to the restaurant?

📚 ins = in + das (direction, Restaurant is neuter)

Beim Frühstück lese ich die Zeitung.

During breakfast I read the newspaper.

📚 beim = bei + dem (Frühstück is neuter)

📚 Related Vocabulary

der Arztdie Schuledas Kinoder Bahnhofdie Arbeitder Parkdas Restaurantdie Postdas Büro

Home›Grammar Topics›Common Contractions

Topic 13A1beginner⏱️ 15 min read

Common Contractions

Häufige Verschmelzungen

🎯 What You'll Learn

✓Understand how prepositions combine with articles
✓Use common contractions like zum, zur, im, ins correctly
✓Recognize when contractions are mandatory vs. optional
✓Apply contractions naturally in everyday German

📖 Introduction

💡 Explanation

📋 Key Rules

zum (zu + dem) - to the (masculine/neuter)

Use 'zum' when going to a masculine or neuter location/person in dative case.

Examples:

• Ich gehe zum Arzt. (I'm going to the doctor.)
• Wir fahren zum Bahnhof. (We're driving to the train station.)
• Er geht zum Supermarkt. (He's going to the supermarket.)

zur (zu + der) - to the (feminine)

Use 'zur' when going to a feminine location/person in dative case.

Examples:

• Ich gehe zur Schule. (I'm going to school.)
• Sie fährt zur Arbeit. (She's driving to work.)
• Wir gehen zur Post. (We're going to the post office.)

im (in + dem) - in the

Use 'im' for being inside a masculine or neuter location (dative case).

Examples:

• Ich bin im Büro. (I'm in the office.)
• Das Buch ist im Regal. (The book is on the shelf.)
• Wir sind im Kino. (We're in the cinema.)

ins (in + das) - into the

Use 'ins' when moving into a neuter location (accusative case).

Examples:

• Ich gehe ins Kino. (I'm going into the cinema.)
• Er geht ins Bett. (He's going to bed.)
• Wir fahren ins Zentrum. (We're driving into the center.)

am (an + dem) - at/on the

Use 'am' for being at a location or on a date (dative case).

Examples:

• Ich bin am Bahnhof. (I'm at the train station.)
• Das Bild hängt am Fenster. (The picture hangs at the window.)
• Am Montag habe ich Zeit. (On Monday I have time.)

ans (an + das) - to the (accusative)

Use 'ans' when moving toward a neuter noun (accusative case).

Examples:

• Ich gehe ans Fenster. (I'm going to the window.)
• Er stellt die Vase ans Fenster. (He puts the vase by the window.)
• Komm ans Telefon! (Come to the phone!)

📝 Examples in Context

🇩🇪 Ich muss zum Zahnarzt gehen.

🇬🇧 I have to go to the dentist.

💡 zum = zu + dem (Zahnarzt is masculine)

📚 zum combines the preposition 'zu' (to) with the article 'dem' (the, dative)

🇩🇪 Sie geht zur Uni.

🇬🇧 She's going to university.

💡 zur = zu + der (Uni/Universität is feminine)

📚 zur combines 'zu' (to) with 'der' (the, feminine dative)

🇩🇪 Wir treffen uns am Hauptbahnhof.

🇬🇧 We're meeting at the main train station.

💡 am = an + dem (Bahnhof is masculine, dative for location)

📚 am combines 'an' (at) with 'dem' (the, dative)

🇩🇪 Die Kinder spielen im Park.

🇬🇧 The children are playing in the park.

💡 im = in + dem (Park is masculine, dative for location)

📚 im indicates being inside or at a location

🇩🇪 Kommst du heute Abend ins Kino?

🇬🇧 Are you coming to the cinema tonight?

💡 ins = in + das (Kino is neuter, accusative for direction)

📚 ins shows movement into a location

🧠 Memory Tips

💡 Location vs. Direction Pattern

Use 'im' (in + dem) when you're already there, 'ins' (in + das) when you're going there. Think: 'im' = inside, 'ins' = into.

💡 The 'zum/zur' Destination Rule

When going somewhere, it's almost always zum (masculine/neuter) or zur (feminine). Listen for the gender: der Arzt → zum Arzt, die Schule → zur Schule.

💡 Time expressions with 'am'

Days and times of day use 'am': am Montag (on Monday), am Morgen (in the morning), am Wochenende (on the weekend).

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌

Ich gehe zu dem Arzt.

✅

Ich gehe zum Arzt.

❌

Wir sind in dem Kino.

✅

Wir sind im Kino.

❌

Sie fährt zu der Arbeit.

✅

Sie fährt zur Arbeit.

✏️ Practice Sentences

Ich gehe jeden Tag zum Training.

I go to training every day.

📚 zum = zu + dem (Training is neuter)

Wir fahren am Wochenende ans Meer.

We're driving to the sea on the weekend.

📚 am = an + dem (time), ans = an + das (direction to neuter noun)

Die Katze sitzt im Garten.

The cat is sitting in the garden.

📚 im = in + dem (location, Garten is masculine)

Kommst du mit ins Restaurant?

Are you coming with us to the restaurant?

📚 ins = in + das (direction, Restaurant is neuter)

Beim Frühstück lese ich die Zeitung.

During breakfast I read the newspaper.

📚 beim = bei + dem (Frühstück is neuter)

📚 Related Vocabulary

der Arztdie Schuledas Kinoder Bahnhofdie Arbeitder Parkdas Restaurantdie Postdas Büro