Why it is used this preposition in this sentence?
Ich dachte, daß ich wahrscheinlich in ein paar Monaten an Krebs sterben würde.

Why do we use the preposition ´´an´´ with the verb sterben?. I know that ´´an´´ is an acusative preposition and also dative but is there a rule for when to use it.? I know that sterben is an acusative verb. is that the answer?. how do we know it?

can another preposition be used in this sentence?

Thank for the help.

Question

Why it is used this preposition in this sentence?
Ich dachte, daß ich wahrscheinlich in ein paar Monaten an Krebs sterben würde.

Why do we use the preposition ´´an´´ with the verb sterben?. I know that ´´an´´ is an acusative preposition and also dative but is there a rule for when to use it.?   I know that sterben is an acusative verb. is that the answer?. how do we know it?

can another preposition be used in this sentence?

Thank for the help.

Answer

The pattern is "an etwas (Dat) sterben". Often there's no logic behind those patterns, you just have to look them up:

http://de.pons.com/%C3%BCbersetzung?q=sterben&l=deen&in=&lf=

and learn them. In the same way, in English it's "to die of s.th.", and you cannot replace "of" with another preposition. I guess it's the same in Spanish. :-)

Answers · 1

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