You are on a visit to Germany and got lost. The best thing you can do now is to ask someone how to get to the place you want to go to.<\/p>\n
The most common question to ask for directions is:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Wie komme ich zu (zum;zur)\/nach \u2026 ? \u2013 How do I get to \u2026 ?<\/p>\n
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As you can see, there are, at least, two German prepositions that are equal to English \u201cto\u201d. These are: \u201czu\u201d and \u201cnach\u201d. You rather use the preposition \u201cnach\u201d when you want to go to another town or city, no matter whether you would like to go there by car or public transportation (by train, bus, etc.). For example, when you are at a train station and do not know which train to take you can ask the question below and you could receive the following response:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A: Wie komme ich nach Berlin? \u2013 How do I get to Berlin?<\/p>\n
B: Nehmen Sie den Zug von Bahnsteig 3, um 13:32 Uhr. Dieser Zug halt in Berlin. \u2013 Take the train from platform 3, at 1:32 p.m. This train stops in Berlin.<\/p>\n
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Using the preposition \u201czu\u201d is a bit more difficult. First of all, you use this preposition when you want to go to a particular spot in a town, that is, a building or address. Secondly, you often have to use this preposition in questions (like these) with definite articles: \u201czu dem\u201d or \u201czu der\u201d, which conflate to \u201czur\u201d or \u201czum\u201d. Whether you have to opt for \u201czur\u201d or \u201czum\u201d depends on the grammatical gender of the following noun. If the object noun of your question is neuter or masculine, you have to use \u201czum\u201d. If the object noun of your question is feminine, you have to use \u201czur\u201d. Examples:<\/p>\n
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Wie komme ich zum Kino? \u2013 How do I get to the cinema?<\/p>\n
Wie komme ich zum Rathaus? \u2013 How to I get to the town hall?<\/p>\n
Wie komme ich zum Schwimmbad? \u2013 How do I get to the swimming bath?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In German, the nouns \u201ccinema\u201d, \u201ctown hall\u201d, and \u201cswimming bath\u201d are neuter: das Kino<\/em>, das Rathaus<\/em> und das Schwimmbad<\/em>. Therefore, you have to use the prepositional form \u201czum\u201d.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You also use \u201czum\u201d when your object noun is masculine.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wie komme ich zum Fernsehturm? \u2013 How do I get to the TV Tower?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n TV Tower is masculine in German: der Fernsehturm<\/em>. Consequently, you have to use the prepositional form \u201czum\u201d, too.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If the object noun of your question is feminine you have to use the form \u201czur\u201d.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wie komme ich zur Kirche? \u2013 How do I get to the church?<\/p>\n Wie komme ich zur Ausstellung? \u2013 Ho do I get to the exhibition?<\/p>\n Wie komme ich zur Buchmesse? \u2013 How do I get to the book fair?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In German, the nouns \u201cchurch\u201d, \u201cexhibition\u201d, and \u201cbook fair\u201d are feminine: die Kirche<\/em>, die Ausstellung<\/em> und die Buchmesse<\/em>. Thus, you have to use these nouns with the prepositional form \u201czur\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" You are on a visit to Germany and got lost. The best thing you can do now is to ask someone how to get to the place you want to go to. The most common question to ask for directions is: Wie komme ich zu (zum;zur)\/nach \u2026 ? \u2013 How do I get to…<\/p>\n