Temporal prepositions in German
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Sign up for freeTemporal prepositions are prepositions of time, that means they refer to a certain point in time, a timeframe or the duration of an action. For example with them you can express what time it is, how long something lasts, or since when something is occurring.
In concrete with temporal prepositions you can answer questions like "Wann? (When) / Wie lange? (How long?) / Seit wann? (Since when?) / Ab wann? (Starting when?)"
Lesson outline
HideList of temporal prepositions in German
| Temporal prepositions | Translation | Example | Example Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ab | Starting | Ab nächsten Monat erhalte ich mehr Geld. | Starting next Monday I will receive more money |
| An | On | An diesen Tagen mache ich immer Sport. | On those days I always do sport |
| Außerhalb | Outside of | Außerhalb der Arbeitszeit schaue ich nicht nach E-Mails. | Outside of the working hours I don't look at my e-mails |
| Bis | Until | Lasst uns noch bis nächste Woche warten. | Let's wait until next week |
| Für | For | Ich gehe für 6 Monate ins Ausland. | I will go abroad for 6 months |
| Gegen | Around | Die Gäste kommen gegen 8 Uhr. | The guests will arrive around 8 pm |
| In | In | Das Konzert beginnt in der nächsten halben Stunde. | The concert will begin in the next half hour |
| Innerhalb | Within | Innerhalb einer Woche muss ich fertig werden. | I have to finish it within the week |
| Nach | After | Er kam nach mir an. | He came after me |
| Seit | Since | Seit wann hast du diese Uhr? | Since when do you have this watch? |
| Um | At | Wir kommen um 12 am Bahnhof an. | We arrive at the train station at 12 |
| Über | Over | Wir warteten über eine Stunde auf den Bus. | We wait since over an hour for the bus |
| Von...Bis | From...To | Das Konzert geht von 8 bis 10. | The concert lasts from 8 to 10 pm |
| Vor | Before | Das war noch vor meiner Ankunft. | That was before my arrival |
| Während | During | Während des Films klingelte sein Telefon. | His phone is ringing during the movie |
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Temporal Prepositions and their Functions
| Wann? / When | Wie lange? / How long? | Seit/Ab wann? / Since when? |
|---|---|---|
| An / On | Bis / Until | Seit / Since |
| Außerhalb / Outside of | Für / For | Ab / Starting |
| Gegen / Around | Über / Over | / |
| In / In | Von...Bis / From...until | / |
| Innerhalb / Within | / | / |
| Nach / After | / | / |
| Um / At | / | / |
| Vor / Before | / | / |
| Während / During | / | / |