TOPIC · Prepositions (Präpositionen)

Distinguishing time prepositions used with the Accusative in German

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After this lesson, learners will be able to correctly use the five essential temporal prepositions in German with the accusative case.

In this lesson, we will explore the temporal prepositions in German that are used with the accusative case. These prepositions are essential for specifying exact points in time or durations, allowing us to express time accurately in conversations. The five main temporal prepositions are: um, gegen, bis, für, and über. Let’s take a closer look at each of them.

Prepositions and Their Usage

PrepositionQuestionUsageExample
umWhen?Used to specify exact times or relative years.Wann beginnt das Konzert? - Um 19:00 Uhr. (When does the concert start? - At 7:00 PM.)
gegenWhen?Used for indicating approximate times.Sie kommt gegen 18:00 Uhr. (She will come around 6:00 PM.)
bisUntil when?Specifies the end date or time of a duration.Wir bleiben bis Montag. (We are staying until Monday.)
fürFor how long?Indicates the duration of a future period.Ich habe das Ticket für zwei Tage gekauft. (I bought the ticket for two days.)
überHow long?Specifies a period that exceeds a particular duration.Er wartet über eine Stunde. (He has been waiting for over an hour.)

Examples for Clarification

  1. "um":

    • Question: "Wann beginnt der Film?"
    • Answer: "Um 21:00 Uhr." (At 9:00 PM.)

  2. "gegen":

    • Question: "Wann sind die Gäste da?"
    • Answer: "Gegen 17:30 Uhr." (Around 5:30 PM.)

  3. "bis":

    • Question: "Bis wann müssen wir die Aufgabe abgeben?"
    • Answer: "Bis Freitag." (By Friday.)

  4. "für":

    • Question: "Wie lange wirst du in Berlin sein?"
    • Answer: "Ich bleibe für eine Woche." (I will stay for a week.)

  5. "über":

    • Question: "Wie lange hast du gewartet?"
    • Answer: "Ich habe über zwei Stunden gewartet." (I waited for over two hours.)

Conclusion

Using these prepositions is crucial for providing clear information about time. These five prepositions fit into various contexts, and understanding their correct use will help improve your German skills. Practice by creating your own sentences with these prepositions!