Local preposition 'in' (into, Wohin?/where to? + accusative)

in with movement means into - you go into a space (a building, a room, a town). As a two-way preposition, in takes the accusative when there is movement towards a place and you ask Wohin?

The rule:

• Wohin? (movement into) → in + Akkusativ
• Wo? (position) → in + Dativ

Accusative articles after in: in den (m), in die (f), in das (n). The neuter form contracts: in das → ins.

Paired examples (same preposition, different case):

• Ich gehe in die Schule. - I go to school. (Wohin? → Akkusativ)
• Ich bin in der Schule. - I am at school. (Wo? → Dativ)
• Wir gehen ins Kino. - We go to the cinema. (Wohin? → Akkusativ, in das → ins)
• Er fährt in den Garten. - He drives into the garden. (Wohin? → Akkusativ)

Common mistakes:

• Using the dative when there is movement: Ich gehe in der Schule is wrong - say in die Schule.
• Forgetting the contraction: with neuter, prefer ins over in das in everyday speech.

'in' (into) takes the accusative for movement into a place (Wohin?).

'in' takes the accusative for direction (Wohin?); in das → ins.

'in' steht bei einer Richtungsangabe (Wohin?) mit dem Akkusativ.