The noun Wasser is a special noun in German because it can be used with many different prepositions. So how do their usages differ? In today's article Vogel will explore this topic with you!!!

1. UNTER + Wasser

- When you want to express that someone or something is below the surface of the water or moving below the surface of the water, we use the preposition UNTER. The noun WASSER is an uncountable noun, so it is usually not accompanied by an article when combined with the preposition UNTER: 

Das U-Boot taucht unter Wasser.

(The submarine dives under water.)

Die antike Stadt liegt heute unter Wasser.

(The ancient city is now under water.)

2. AUF + Wasser

- When you want to express that something moves on the surface of the water, we use the preposition AUF with the noun WASSER: 

Das Boot fährt auf dem Wasser.

(The boat travels on the water.)

Die Enten schwimmen auf dem See.

(The ducks are swimming on the lake.)

3. IN + Wasser

- The preposition IN is used when we want to refer to a space. The noun WASSER with the preposition IN can be understood as a vast space of water, including the space beneath the water: 

Die Fische schwimmen im Wasser.

(The fish swim in the water.)

Die Kinder schwimmen im Wasser. 

(The children swim in the water.)

→ Although the head is held above the water surface when swimming, the rest of the body is mostly under water, so we also use im Wasser when talking about the swimming of humans. 

!!! In addition, we can also use im Wasser with ships, submarines and divers when regarding the water and the area below the surface as a space. 

4. AN + Wasser

- The preposition AN with the noun WASSER in general or with bodies of water in particular (Fluss, Meer) is used to refer to the coast and the areas close to the shore (Küste, Ufer, Strand)

Maria hat ein Haus am Meer.

(Maria has a house by the sea.)

Wir gehen an den Strand.

(We are going to the beach.)

!!! We use AN instead of NEBEN to emphasize the connection between WASSER and the person or thing.