Prepositions can be very challenging, even for advanced Luxembourgish learners!
Today I’ll show you 10 of the most common mistakes students make with prepositions and how to fix them.
Mistake 1
Vu wou kënns du? – Where do you come from?
Ech kommen vun Italien.
Ech kommen aus Italien. I come from Italy.
Use the following prepositions with the verb kommen:
- aus + country
- vun + city
Examples:
Ech kommen aus Ungarn vu(n) Budapest. – I come from Hungary from Budapest.
Ech kommen aus der Belsch vun Arel. – I come from Belgium from Arlon.
Mistake 2
Wou wunnt Dir? – Where do you live?
Ech wunnen zu Frankräich.
Ech wunnen a(n) Frankräich. – I live in France.
Position or Motion: Always use the the preposition:
- an + country
Exception: Ech wunnen zu Lëtzebuerg. I live in Luxembourg.
MISTAKE 3
Wou schafft Dir? – Where do you work?
Ech schaffen a(n) Mamer.
Ech schaffen zu Mamer. I work in Mamer.
Position / Location (no motiion): Use the the preposition:
- zu + city
Exception: Ech schaffen an der Stad. I work in Luxembourg city.
MISTAKE 4
Wouhi(n) gitt dir de(n) Weekend? – Where are you going on the weekend?
Mir ginn zu London.
Mir ginn op London. – We are going to London.
Destination / Movement (when you go to a city): Use the the preposition
- op + city
Exception: Ech ginn an d’Stad. – I go to Luxembourg city.
MISTAKE 5
Wat maacht dir de(n) Weekend? – What are you doing this weekend?
Am Weekend ginn ech mat der Famill spadséieren.
De(n) Weekend ginn ech mat der Famill spadséieren. This weekend I’m going for a walk with my family .
Use the definite masc. article de(n) before Weekend and not “an dem” or “am”.
MISTAKE 6
Wéini schaffs du? –When do you work?
Ech schaffen um 8h00 bis 17h00.
Ech schaffe(n) vun 8h00 bis 17h00. I work from 8 am to 5 pm.
Before the time use either the following prepositions:
- Um (at), géint (around), vun … bis (from … to), tëscht …. an (between … and), no (after), virun (before).
MISTAKE 7
Duerno der Aarbecht fueren ech heem.
No der Aarbecht fueren ech heem. After work I drive home.
Use:
- no der + feminine noun: no der Aarbecht, no der Vakanz ….
- nom (no + dem) + masculine / neutral noun: nom Cours, nom Iessen
Practice prepositions with me with this challenging QUIZ!
MISTAKE 8
Ech wunne mengen mat Elteren.
Ech wunnen nach bei mengen Elteren. I still live with my parents.
When stating that someone is at a place or staying with someone, use the preposition BEI.
Example: Sonndes iessen ech ëmmer bei menger Mamm.
MISTAKE 9
Mir fueren im / den August an d’Vakanz.
Mir fueren am August an d’Vakanz. We go in August on holidays.
Always use am + month and + season: am Januar, am Wanter, am Hierscht …..
MISTAKE 10
Ech sinn ëmmer zur Zäit am Aarbecht.
Ech sinn ëmmer zur Zäit op der Aarbecht. I’m always on time at work.
Always use
- op + Aarbecht
Example: Ech fueren mam Bus op d’Aarbecht. I go by bus to work.
Practice prepositions with me with this challenging QUIZ!
Download the PDF so to practice more in depth what you have learnt in this lesson!
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