DA-KOMPOSITA
Da-compounds are essentially shortened versions of a prepositional
phrase.
They may only be used when the object of the preposition
is not a person.
Use the preposition given and add a da(-r-). "r"
is necessary before prepositions beginning with a vowel.
Schläft die Katze auf dem Bett? Ja, sie schläft darauf.
Using the same preposition (in this case,
"auf") you can form a da-compound da-r-auf because "Katze" is not a person.
Note: There are two da-compounds that have idiomatic meanings:
dabei = on or with someone Ich habe Geld dabei. [I have money with me.]
darum = that's why Ich habe die
Zeitung gelesen. Darum weiß ich von
dem Orkan. [I read
the paper. That's why I know
about the hurricane.]
When a person is the object of the preposition,
it must be replaced with a personal pronoun of the appropriate case
(according to the preposition), number and gender (according
to the object of the preposition.
Ich wohne noch bei meinen Eltern. -- Ich wohne noch
bei
ihnen.
Dative/Plural
Dative/Plural