How to Say “With Me” in German: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding how to express “with me” in German is crucial for basic communication and building more complex sentences. This seemingly simple phrase requires knowledge of German pronouns and prepositions, which can initially be confusing for learners.

This article provides a detailed explanation of the various ways to say “with me” in German, covering the grammatical rules, different contexts, common mistakes, and plenty of examples to solidify your understanding. This guide is perfect for beginner to intermediate German learners who want to improve their conversational skills and grasp the nuances of German grammar.

This guide will benefit students learning German, travelers planning a trip to German-speaking countries, and anyone interested in expanding their knowledge of the German language. Mastering this fundamental concept will significantly enhance your ability to express yourself clearly and accurately in German.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Definition: “With Me” in German
3. Structural Breakdown
4. Types and Categories
   • Mit mir
   • Bei mir
   • Reflexive Pronouns: Mit mir selbst
5. Examples
   • Examples with Mit mir
   • Examples with Bei mir
   • Examples with Reflexive Pronouns
6. Usage Rules
7. Common Mistakes
8. Practice Exercises
   • Exercise 1: Translation
   • Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks
   • Exercise 3: Sentence Building
9. Advanced Topics
   • Emphatic Pronouns
   • Indirect Objects
10. FAQ
11. Conclusion

Definition: “With Me” in German

The most common way to say “with me” in German is mit mir. The word mit is a preposition that means “with,” and mir is the dative form of the personal pronoun ich (I). The dative case is used because the preposition mit always requires the noun or pronoun that follows it to be in the dative case.

However, there are other ways to express the idea of “with me” in German, depending on the context. Another common phrase is bei mir, which translates more closely to “at my place” or “with me” in the sense of being located at my home or office. The preposition bei often indicates location or proximity.

Finally, when referring to doing something “with myself,” you would use the reflexive pronoun mit mir selbst. This emphasizes that the action is being done alone, in one’s own company.

Structural Breakdown

The structure of “with me” in German involves a preposition followed by a pronoun. Let’s break down the components:

• Preposition: This word indicates the relationship between the pronoun and the rest of the sentence. In the case of “with me,” the prepositions are mit (with) and bei (at/near).
• Pronoun: This word replaces a noun and refers to a specific person. In this case, the pronoun is mir, which is the dative form of ich (I).

The word order is typically preposition + pronoun. For example:

• Mit mir (with me)
• Bei mir (at my place/with me)

When using a reflexive pronoun, the structure is preposition + pronoun + selbst (self). For example:

• Mit mir selbst (with myself)

Types and Categories

Mit mir

Mit mir is the most direct translation of “with me.” It is used to indicate accompaniment or being together with someone. This is the most common and versatile way to express “with me” in German.

Bei mir

Bei mir implies location. It means “at my place,” “at my house,” or “with me” in terms of being physically present at my location. It suggests that the person or thing is located near or at the speaker’s place.

Reflexive Pronouns: Mit mir selbst

Mit mir selbst is used when the action is done alone or in one’s own company. The word selbst emphasizes that the action or experience is solitary.

Examples

Examples with Mit mir

The following table provides examples of how to use mit mir in various sentences. Each example includes the German sentence, its English translation, and a brief note providing context or further explanation.

German Sentence	English Translation	Notes
Kommst du mit mir ins Kino?	Are you coming with me to the cinema?	Asking someone to accompany you.
Sie möchte mit mir sprechen.	She wants to speak with me.	Expressing someone’s desire to talk to you.
Er ist mit mir befreundet.	He is friends with me.	Describing a friendship.
Kannst du mit mir arbeiten?	Can you work with me?	Asking if someone can collaborate with you.
Sie geht mit mir spazieren.	She is going for a walk with me.	Describing an activity done together.
Willst du mit mir essen?	Do you want to eat with me?	Inviting someone to share a meal.
Er hat mit mir gelacht.	He laughed with me.	Sharing a joyful moment.
Sie hat mit mir geweint.	She cried with me.	Sharing a sad moment.
Kannst du mit mir tanzen?	Can you dance with me?	Asking someone to dance.
Sie ist mit mir einverstanden.	She agrees with me.	Expressing agreement.
Er ist nicht mit mir zufrieden.	He is not satisfied with me.	Expressing dissatisfaction.
Sie hat mit mir Mitleid.	She has pity on me.	Expressing sympathy.
Kannst du mit mir singen?	Can you sing with me?	Asking someone to sing together.
Sie will mit mir reisen.	She wants to travel with me.	Expressing a wish to travel together.
Er lernt mit mir Deutsch.	He is learning German with me.	Studying a language together.
Sie diskutiert mit mir.	She is discussing with me.	Engaging in a discussion.
Er spielt mit mir.	He is playing with me.	Engaging in play.
Sie telefoniert mit mir.	She is talking on the phone with me.	Having a phone conversation.
Er arbeitet mit mir an diesem Projekt.	He is working with me on this project.	Collaborating on a project.
Sie hat mit mir das Problem gelöst.	She solved the problem with me.	Solving a problem together.
Er geht mit mir ins Konzert.	He is going to the concert with me.	Attending a concert together.
Sie spricht mit mir über ihre Probleme.	She talks with me about her problems.	Sharing personal issues.
Er verbringt Zeit mit mir.	He spends time with me.	Spending time together.
Sie ist mit mir im Urlaub.	She is on vacation with me.	Being on vacation together.
Er feiert mit mir Geburtstag.	He is celebrating my birthday with me.	Celebrating a birthday together.

Examples with Bei mir

The following table provides examples of how to use bei mir in various sentences, indicating location or proximity.

German Sentence	English Translation	Notes
Das Buch ist bei mir.	The book is at my place.	Indicating the location of an object.
Bist du heute Abend bei mir?	Are you at my place tonight?	Asking if someone will be at your location.
Ich habe meine Schlüssel bei mir.	I have my keys with me (at my place).	Indicating you have something at your location.
Kannst du bei mir übernachten?	Can you stay overnight at my place?	Offering accommodation.
Die Katze schläft bei mir.	The cat is sleeping with me (at my place).	Indicating the location of an animal.
Wir treffen uns bei mir.	We are meeting at my place.	Arranging a meeting at your location.
Hast du dein Handy bei dir?	Do you have your phone with you (at your place)?	Asking if someone has something at their location.
Ich wohne bei mir.	I live at my place.	Stating where you live.
Das Paket ist bei mir angekommen.	The package arrived at my place.	Indicating a delivery location.
Ich habe Besuch bei mir.	I have visitors at my place.	Indicating you have guests at your location.
Kannst du es bei mir lassen?	Can you leave it at my place?	Asking someone to leave something at your location.
Ich habe es bei mir gefunden.	I found it at my place.	Indicating where you found something.
Sie ist gerade bei mir.	She is currently at my place.	Indicating someone’s current location.
Er war gestern bei mir.	He was at my place yesterday.	Indicating someone’s past location.
Ich mache das bei mir.	I’m doing that at my place.	Indicating where you are doing something.
Die Party ist bei mir.	The party is at my place.	Indicating the location of a party.
Ich habe meine Freunde bei mir.	I have my friends at my place.	Indicating who is at your location.
Er arbeitet bei mir im Büro.	He works at my office.	Describing a workplace location.
Sie studiert bei mir zu Hause.	She studies at my home.	Describing a study location.
Ich habe das Konzert bei mir auf dem Laptop gesehen.	I watched the concert on my laptop at my place.	Describing where you watched something.
Er repariert sein Fahrrad bei mir in der Garage.	He is repairing his bike in my garage.	Describing where someone is repairing something.
Sie hat meine Blumen bei mir gelassen.	She left my flowers at my place.	Indicating where something was left.
Ich habe meine Dokumente bei mir im Schreibtisch.	I have my documents in my desk.	Indicating where documents are located.
Er hat seinen Regenschirm bei mir vergessen.	He forgot his umbrella at my place.	Indicating where something was forgotten.
Sie kocht bei mir das Abendessen.	She is cooking dinner at my place.	Describing where dinner is being cooked.

Examples with Reflexive Pronouns

The following table demonstrates the use of mit mir selbst, emphasizing solitary actions.

German Sentence	English Translation	Notes
Ich bin gern mit mir selbst allein.	I like being alone with myself.	Expressing enjoyment of solitude.
Ich rede mit mir selbst, wenn ich nervös bin.	I talk to myself when I’m nervous.	Describing a habit when anxious.
Ich bin mit mir selbst im Reinen.	I am at peace with myself.	Expressing inner peace.
Ich gehe mit mir selbst ins Kino.	I go to the cinema with myself.	Going to the cinema alone.
Ich diskutiere oft mit mir selbst.	I often argue with myself.	Describing self-argument.
Ich bin mit mir selbst zufrieden.	I am satisfied with myself.	Expressing self-satisfaction.
Ich verbringe den Abend mit mir selbst.	I am spending the evening with myself.	Spending the evening alone.
Ich lache mit mir selbst über meine Fehler.	I laugh at myself about my mistakes.	Laughing at one’s own errors.
Ich bin ehrlich mit mir selbst.	I am honest with myself.	Expressing self-honesty.
Ich bin kritisch mit mir selbst.	I am critical of myself.	Expressing self-criticism.
Ich bin streng mit mir selbst.	I am strict with myself.	Expressing self-discipline.
Ich bin geduldig mit mir selbst.	I am patient with myself.	Expressing self-patience.
Ich bin nachsichtig mit mir selbst.	I am lenient with myself.	Expressing self-leniency.
Ich bin freundlich mit mir selbst.	I am friendly with myself.	Expressing self-friendliness.
Ich bin liebevoll mit mir selbst.	I am loving with myself.	Expressing self-love.
Ich bin stolz auf mich selbst.	I am proud of myself.	Expressing self-pride.
Ich bin enttäuscht von mir selbst.	I am disappointed in myself.	Expressing self-disappointment.
Ich bin wütend auf mich selbst.	I am angry at myself.	Expressing self-anger.
Ich bin traurig über mich selbst.	I am sad about myself.	Expressing self-sadness.
Ich bin dankbar für mich selbst.	I am grateful for myself.	Expressing self-gratitude.
Ich bin zufrieden mit mir selbst.	I am content with myself.	Expressing self-contentment.
Ich bin glücklich mit mir selbst.	I am happy with myself.	Expressing self-happiness.
Ich bin im Einklang mit mir selbst.	I am in harmony with myself.	Expressing self-harmony.
Ich bin in Frieden mit mir selbst.	I am at peace with myself.	Expressing inner peace.
Ich bin eins mit mir selbst.	I am one with myself.	Expressing self-unity.

Usage Rules

Here are some rules to follow when using “with me” in German:

1. Use mit mir for accompaniment or being together: This is the most common and versatile option.
2. Use bei mir for location: This indicates that something or someone is at your place.
3. Use mit mir selbst for solitary actions: This emphasizes that you are doing something alone.
4. Pay attention to case: The preposition mit always requires the dative case. The preposition bei can take either dative or accusative case, but in this context, it takes the dative.

Common Mistakes

Here are some common mistakes learners make when using “with me” in German:

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
Mit ich	Mit mir	Ich is the nominative form; mir is the dative form required after mit.
Bei ich	Bei mir	Again, mir is the correct dative form.
Ich gehe mit mein	Ich gehe mit mir	Using the possessive pronoun instead of the correct dative form.
Ich habe das Buch mit ich	Ich habe das Buch bei mir	Using mit when you should be using bei to indicate location.
Mit mich selbst	Mit mir selbst	Incorrect dative form of the pronoun.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Translation

Translate the following sentences into German, using the correct form of “with me.”

English Sentence	Your Answer	Correct Answer
Are you coming with me?		Kommst du mit mir?
The book is at my place.		Das Buch ist bei mir.
I like being alone with myself.		Ich bin gern mit mir selbst allein.
She wants to talk with me.		Sie möchte mit mir sprechen.
Can you stay overnight at my place?		Kannst du bei mir übernachten?
I am at peace with myself.		Ich bin mit mir selbst im Reinen.
He is friends with me.		Er ist mit mir befreundet.
We are meeting at my place.		Wir treffen uns bei mir.
I often argue with myself.		Ich diskutiere oft mit mir selbst.
She is going for a walk with me.		Sie geht mit mir spazieren.

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “with me” (mit mir, bei mir, or mit mir selbst).

German Sentence	Your Answer	Correct Answer
Kannst du ______ arbeiten?		mit mir
Ich habe meine Schlüssel ______.		bei mir
Ich bin gern ______ allein.		mit mir selbst
Sie geht ______ ins Kino.		mit mir
Die Katze schläft ______.		bei mir
Ich bin im Reinen ______.		mit mir selbst
Er hat ______ gelacht.		mit mir
Wir treffen uns ______.		bei mir
Ich diskutiere oft ______.		mit mir selbst
Sie ist ______ einverstanden.		mit mir

Exercise 3: Sentence Building

Build a German sentence using the given prompts and the correct form of “with me.”

Prompt	Your Answer	Example Answer
You / eat / with me / want?		Willst du mit mir essen?
The package / arrive / at my place.		Das Paket ist bei mir angekommen.
I / often / talk / with myself.		Ich rede oft mit mir selbst.
She / travel / with me / want.		Sie will mit mir reisen.
Can / you / leave / it / at my place?		Kannst du es bei mir lassen?
I / am / satisfied / with myself.		Ich bin zufrieden mit mir selbst.
He / work / with me / on this project.		Er arbeitet mit mir an diesem Projekt.
She / talk / with me / about her problems.		Sie spricht mit mir über ihre Probleme.
I / spend / the evening / with myself.		Ich verbringe den Abend mit mir selbst.
He / celebrate / my birthday / with me.		Er feiert mit mir Geburtstag.

Advanced Topics

Emphatic Pronouns

To emphasize that something is specifically “with *me*,” you can use an emphatic pronoun. The emphatic form of mir is mir selbst or mich selbst (depending on the case – dative or accusative respectively). While mit mir selbst already includes “selbst,” it is referring to doing something “with myself” in a solitary way. Using mit mir selbst emphatically would be less common and potentially redundant. Instead, one might rephrase the sentence to highlight the “I” more explicitly.

Example:

• Nur mit mir kann sie reden. (Only with me can she talk.)

Here, the emphasis is placed on “me” by positioning “nur” (only) directly before “mit mir.”

Indirect Objects

Understanding indirect objects can further clarify the use of the dative case. Indirect objects typically receive the direct object.

While not directly related to “with me,” recognizing indirect objects helps solidify dative case usage.

Example:

• Er gibt mir das Buch. (He gives me the book.)

In this sentence, mir (me) is the indirect object, and das Buch (the book) is the direct object.

FAQ

1. Why is it mit mir and not mit ich?

   The preposition mit always requires the dative case. Ich is the nominative form of “I,” while mir is the dative form. Prepositions govern the case of the nouns or pronouns that follow them, and mit dictates the dative case.

2. When should I use bei mir instead of mit mir?

   Use bei mir when you want to indicate that something or someone is located at your place or in your possession. Mit mir is used for accompaniment or doing something together.

3. Is mit mir selbst the only way to say “with myself”?

   Yes, mit mir selbst is the standard way to express “with myself” in German, emphasizing that the action is done alone.

4. Does mit always require the dative case?

   Yes, the preposition mit always requires the dative case. Any noun or pronoun following mit must be in the dative form.

5. Can I use mich instead of mir after mit?

   No, you cannot use mich after mit. Mich is the accusative form of “I,” and mit requires the dative case (mir).

6. How can I remember when to use mit and when to use bei?

   Think of mit as indicating “togetherness” or “accompaniment,” and bei as indicating “location” or “proximity.” This will help you choose the correct preposition based on the context.

7. Are there any exceptions to the rule that mit requires the dative case?

   No, there are no exceptions. The preposition mit always governs the dative case in German.

8. Is it correct to say “Ich bin mit mich selbst zufrieden?”

   No, the correct way to say this is “Ich bin mit mir selbst zufrieden.” “Mich” is the accusative form, but “mit” requires the dative form “mir”.

Conclusion

Mastering the different ways to say “with me” in German – mit mir, bei mir, and mit mir selbst – is essential for clear and accurate communication. Remember that mit mir is the most common and versatile option, used for accompaniment. Bei mir indicates location, meaning “at my place.” And mit mir selbst emphasizes that you are doing something alone. By understanding these nuances and practicing regularly, you’ll be able to confidently express yourself in a variety of situations.

Pay close attention to the case governed by the prepositions and practice with numerous examples to solidify your understanding. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – they are a natural part of the learning process.

With consistent effort and attention to detail, you’ll soon master this fundamental aspect of German grammar and improve your overall fluency. Good luck with your German language journey!