TOPIC · Sentence structure & conjunctions

Temporal clauses with seit/seitdem, bis and während

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After this lesson, learners will be able to correctly use temporal clauses with seit/seitdem, bis, and während in their sentences.

In this lesson, we will explore temporal clauses using the conjunctions seit/seitdem, bis, and während. Understanding how to use these can greatly enhance your German language skills by clarifying the timing of events. Let’s dive into each of these conjunctions!

1. „Seit / Seitdem“

Using seit or seitdem indicates that an action or state has been ongoing from a certain point in time.

ExampleMeaning
„Ich lerne Deutsch, seit ich hier wohne.“„I have been learning German since I live here.“
„Seitdem er die Schule beendet hat, arbeitet er viel.“„Since he graduated school, he has been working a lot.”

In these examples, we see that the actions started at the same time and continue until now.

Note: When the event in the clause with seit/seid has already happened, the main action is stated in the present tense.

2. „bis“

The conjunction bis indicates that an action or state continues until a certain point in time.

ExampleMeaning
„Ich warte hier, bis du kommst.“„I will wait here until you arrive.“
„Bis ich das Buch gelesen habe, kann ich nicht schlafen.“„I cannot sleep until I have read the book.“

In these cases, both actions occur concurrently and finish at the specified time.

3. „während“

Using während expresses that two actions are happening at the same time.

ExampleMeaning
„Ich höre Musik, während ich arbeite.“„I listen to music while I work.“
„Während du das Essen kochst, mache ich die Nachbarn fertig.“„While you are cooking, I will finish with the neighbors.”

Here, both actions occur simultaneously.

In summary, the use of seit/seid, bis, and während helps clarify when actions occur and their relationship to each other. Now you are ready to use these structures in your sentences!