mit
with
Expresses accompaniment or togetherness; means 'together with.'
EXAMPLE
Ich gehe heute Abend mit Freunden ins Kino.
I'm going to the movies with friends this evening.
mit
with
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Meanings
mit
by / with
Indicates an instrument, tool, or means with which an action is carried out.
EXAMPLE
Er fährt jeden Tag mit dem Bus zur Arbeit.
He goes to work by bus every day.
mit
with
Describes a quality, content, or characteristic of something.
EXAMPLE
Ich trinke meinen Kaffee am liebsten mit viel Milch.
I prefer to drink my coffee with lots of milk.
mit
with
Describes the manner or an accompanying feeling in an action.
EXAMPLE
Sie erledigte die Aufgabe mit großer Sorgfalt.
She completed the task with great care.
mit
at
Indicates an age or a point in time at which something happens.
EXAMPLE
Mit 18 Jahren hat sie den Führerschein gemacht.
At 18, she got her driver's license.
Usage tips
Preposition with dative
The preposition 'mit' always requires the dative. This is a fixed rule that applies to all meanings of 'mit.'
EXAMPLE
Fährst du mit dem Zug oder mit dem Auto?
Are you going by train or by car?
Person or tool?
Pay attention to the context: 'mit' + person usually means accompaniment (together with). 'Mit' + object usually means that the object is being used as a tool or means.
EXAMPLE
Ich spreche mit meiner Chefin.
I'm speaking with my boss.
Indicating the means
When 'mit' indicates a means, tool, or mode of transport, it answers the question 'Womit?' (with what?). This use is very common in everyday life.
EXAMPLE
Womit hast du das Paket geöffnet? - Mit einer Schere.
What did you open the package with? - With scissors.
Manner
The combination 'mit' + noun can describe the manner of an action, similar to an adverb. Typical phrases are 'mit Freude' (with joy), 'mit Geduld' (with patience), or 'mit Absicht' (on purpose).
EXAMPLE
Er hat mir mit großer Freude geholfen.
He helped me with great joy.
Indicating age
The expression 'mit' + number + 'Jahren' is used to indicate the age at which a person performed a certain action or was in a certain state.
EXAMPLE
Mit sechs Jahren habe ich gelernt, Fahrrad zu fahren.
At six, I learned to ride a bike.
Compare with
mit vs in
in
When talking about a journey, mit identifies the vehicle as the means of transportation. In, by contrast, describes where someone is during the journey. So you travel by bus, but sit or stand on the bus.
mit
Mit dem Bus fahren wir nach Köln.
We are traveling to Cologne by bus.
in
Im Bus nach Köln sitzen wir ganz hinten.
We are sitting at the very back of the bus to Cologne.
In real life
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