What is the difference between "zu + dativ" and "in + accusative"?

Question

Answer

You use in + accusative to describe a movement INTO something: into a house, a garden, a box etc.

You use zu + dative when the movement ends in front of the target object. These are usually objects that can't be entered: to a door, to a person, etc.

BUT: You also use zu with institutions such as a school, the police, and many more. In this case, this may mean that you enter the building in which the institution is located. But the focus is on the institution, not in the building. That's why you can find: zur Polizei, zur Schule, zum Bahnhof, zum Arzt...

Answer

Singular:
Accusative:
The = den ( masculine)
            die (feminine)
           das  (neuter)

Dative:
The = dem (masculine)
          der (feminine)
          dem (neuter)

Plural:
Accusative:
Die
Die
Die

Dative:
Den
Den
Den

Answer

An example of 'zu + dative' is:

'Ich gehe zum (zu dem) Bahnhof.'

Answer

In German, using 'in + accusative' means there is movement to a place.
Example:
'Er geht in den Park hinein.'
as opposed to:
'Er spielt im Park.'

The dative case always follows 'zu', in German.