German PREPOSITION B1 Rank 20332

dank

thanks to

dank + dative

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Meanings

dank

thanks to

Indicates the reason or cause of something, usually with a positive or helpful effect. “Dank” is used with the genitive or dative case.

EXAMPLE

Dank deiner Hilfe konnten wir den Zug noch erreichen.

Thanks to your help, we were still able to catch the train.

Usage tips

Case after dank

“Dank” is used with the genitive or dative case; both are correct. The genitive is usually used with plural nouns, while the dative is used with pronouns: “dank dir” (thanks to you).

EXAMPLE

Dank des schnellen Eingreifens der Feuerwehr blieb der Schaden gering.

Thanks to the firefighters’ quick response, the damage remained limited.

Dank dir haben wir den richtigen Weg gefunden.

Thanks to you, we found the right way.

At the beginning of a sentence

“Dank” can appear at the beginning of a sentence together with its prepositional phrase. In a main clause, the finite verb then comes directly after it, before the subject.

EXAMPLE

Dank moderner Technik konnte das Problem schnell gelöst werden.

Thanks to modern technology, the problem was solved quickly.

Typical collocations

“Dank” often comes before a helpful person, a favorable quality, or a positive circumstance. Typical collocations include “dank deiner Hilfe” (thanks to your help), “dank moderner Technik” (thanks to modern technology), and “dank guter Vorbereitung” (thanks to good preparation).

EXAMPLE

Dank guter Vorbereitung verlief die Präsentation ohne Probleme.

Thanks to good preparation, the presentation went smoothly.

In real life

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