Workplaces
If you want to say you work for a named company, use bei. Remember to add the Denotes the indirect object of a sentence (eg the girl gave a present TO THE man). The dative case is also used after the following prepositions: aus, außer, bei, gegenüber, mit, nach, seit, von, zu. form after bei.
Ich arbeite bei der Post.– I work for the post office.
You can also use für, which takes the The accusative case is used for the direct object of the sentence (the person or thing being "done" by the verb). It is also used after certain prepositions: bis, entlang, durch, ohne, gegen, wider, um, für. case.
Ich arbeite für ein großes Unternehmen.– I work for a big company.
Examples in use
Where do these people say they work? Listen and then check your answers.
Question
Ich arbeite bei der Stadt.
I work for the town council. (literally: at the town)
Question
Ich arbeite bei der Post.
I work for the post office.
Question
Ich arbeite für eine deutsche Firma.
I work for a German company/firm.
Question
Ich arbeite bei der Bank.
I work at the bank.
Did you know?
Deutsche Post, formerly known as Deutsche Bundespost until it was privatised in 1995, is the largest courier service in the world.
It's easy to spot German post boxes as they're always yellow (gelb), and feature a black horn logo.
The post horn was used in the 18th and 19th centuries to alert people to an approaching mail coach, so that post riders could deliver their mail as quickly as possible. Like police and ambulance sirens today, people were required to give way when they heard the post horn's bellow.
