Prepositions are an important part of German grammar. In today's article, we will learn about three special prepositions: ANHAND, MITTELS and MITHILFE (mit Hilfe).

Let's get started!!!

1. Used with the GENITIV

- These prepositions are often used in the language of the press, science, etc. All three prepositions take the Genitiv (the second case) to express that the noun following them is a means of determining, finding or achieving something.

Der Lehrer erklärte die Übung anhand eines Beispiels.

(The teacher explained the exercise using an example.)

Das Gewicht wird mittels einer Waage bestimmt.

(The weight is determined by means of a scale.)

Wir arbeiten mithilfe eines Experten an dem Projekt.

= Wir arbeiten mit Hilfe eines Experten an dem Projekt.

(We are working on the project with the help of an expert.)

2. When to use the Genitiv?

- These three prepositions are used with the Genitiv when the noun following them is accompanied by an article or an adjective. Example:

Die Daten werden mithilfe des neuen Computers analysiert.

(The data will be analyzed with the help of the new computer.)

- When the noun has no accompanying article or adjective (usually uncountable nouns or indefinite plural nouns), that noun is put in the third case, the Dativ. Example:

Die Straße wurde mittels Salz vom Eis befreit.

(The road was cleared of ice using salt.)

3. GENITIV = VON + DATIV
- The three prepositions that take the Genitiv can also be replaced by von + Dativ:

Wir arbeiten mithilfe eines Experten an dem Projekt.

= Mithilfe von einem Experten arbeiten wir an dem Projekt.

(We are working on the project with the help of an expert.)

4. ANHAND, MITTELS, MITHILFE can be replaced by MIT or DURCH in some cases where the meaning is equivalent.