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Vocab: Time — A1 (3)
Time vocabulary at A1 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
sonntags — on Sundays, every Sunday
Sonntags describes a regular action that happens every Sunday. It is formed from Sonntag with -s and is an adverb, not a plural noun.
Wir gehen sonntags im Park spazieren.
We go for a walk in the park on Sundays.
im Park means in the park, and spazieren gehen means to go for a walk. Sonntags is a time adverb; the finite verb gehen stays in position two.
Sonntags schläft meine Schwester lange.
My sister sleeps late on Sundays.
meine Schwester means my sister, and lange means for a long time or late. When sonntags occupies position one, the finite verb schläft comes before the subject.
die Stunde — hour; lesson, class period
Eine Stunde is sixty minutes. For clock times, use Uhr for the exact time, but use Stunde for a duration or a period such as zwei Stunden.
Die Stunde beginnt um neun Uhr.
The hour begins at nine o'clock.
beginnt means begins and um neun Uhr means at nine o'clock. Die Stunde is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb beginnt stands in position two.
Ich brauche eine Stunde.
I need an hour.
brauche means need. Eine Stunde is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; the feminine form of eine looks the same in the nominative and accusative.
Wir treffen uns in einer Stunde.
We will meet in an hour.
treffen uns means meet, and in einer Stunde means in one hour. In takes the dative here because it refers to a point in time, so eine becomes einer; uns is the reflexive object.
Das Ende der Stunde ist um zehn Uhr.
The end of the hour is at ten o'clock.
das Ende means the end and um zehn Uhr means at ten o'clock. Der Stunde is genitive because it identifies whose end it is; feminine genitive uses der, with no ending on Stunde.
Der Film dauert zwei Stunden.
The film lasts two hours.
der Film is the film, dauert means lasts, and zwei means two. Stunden is plural with -n; the duration phrase is an accusative object of dauern in this common construction.
Die nächste Stunde ist Mathematik.
The next lesson is mathematics.
die nächste means the next one and Mathematik means mathematics. Die nächste Stunde is the nominative subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Nach der dritten Stunde gehen wir nach Hause.
After the third lesson, we go home.
nach der dritten Stunde means after the third lesson, gehen means go, and nach Hause means home. Nach takes the dative, so the feminine phrase uses der; the finite verb gehen is in position two even though the sentence begins with a time phrase.
der Stundenplan — timetable, class schedule
The plural Stundenpläne changes the vowel from a to ä. In schools, a Stundenplan normally lists subjects, times, and rooms.
Der Stundenplan hängt neben der Tür.
The timetable is hanging next to the door.
hängt means is hanging, and neben der Tür means next to the door. Der Stundenplan is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb hängt is in position two.
Ich lese den Stundenplan jeden Morgen.
I read the timetable every morning.
lese means read, and jeden Morgen means every morning. Den Stundenplan is accusative because lesen takes a direct object; the finite verb lese stands in position two.
Ich folge dem Stundenplan genau.
I follow the timetable exactly.
folge means follow, and genau means exactly. Dem Stundenplan is dative because folgen takes a dative object; the finite verb folge is in position two.
Die Zeiten des Stundenplans ändern sich morgen.
The timetable’s times are changing tomorrow.
die Zeiten means the times, and ändern sich means are changing. Des Stundenplans is genitive because it shows whose times they are; the verb ändern is in position two and sich is a reflexive pronoun.
Die neuen Stundenpläne liegen im Sekretariat.
The new timetables are in the school office.
neuen means new, liegen means are lying, and das Sekretariat is the school office. Die Stundenpläne is plural nominative because it is the subject, and the verb liegen agrees with it.
der Tag — day
der Tag can mean the whole calendar day or daylight hours, depending on context. Common time phrases include jeden Tag for every day and am Tag for during the day.
Der Tag beginnt früh.
The day begins early.
beginnt means begins and früh means early. Der Tag is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb beginnt is in position two.
Ich genieße den Tag.
I am enjoying the day.
genießen means to enjoy. den Tag is accusative because genießen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Am Tag arbeite ich im Büro.
During the day, I work in the office.
arbeiten means to work and das Büro means the office. am Tag means during the day; an plus dem creates am, and the preposition forces dative for this time expression.
Das Ende des Tages ist ruhig.
The end of the day is quiet.
das Ende means the end and ruhig means quiet. des Tages is genitive because it tells us whose end it is; Tages has the genitive ending -es.
Die Tage werden länger.
The days are getting longer.
werden means become or are getting, and länger means longer. Tage is plural and is the subject, so it takes the plural verb werden; the vowel changes from a to ä.
der Termin — appointment, scheduled date; appointment, especially with a doctor or office
In everyday German, Termin usually means an arranged appointment, not simply any date on the calendar. It is often used with haben, vereinbaren, or absagen.
Der Termin ist am Montag.
The appointment is on Monday.
Montag means Monday. Der Termin is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich habe den Termin vergessen.
I forgot the appointment.
Ich means I, habe means have, and vergessen means forgotten. Den Termin is accusative because vergessen takes a direct object, while the finite verb habe is in position two.
Ich komme zu dem Termin pünktlich.
I will arrive at the appointment on time.
kommen means to come, and pünktlich means on time. The preposition zu forces the dative, so dem Termin is dative; the finite verb komme is in position two.
Die Uhrzeit des Termins steht in der E-Mail.
The time of the appointment is in the email.
Die Uhrzeit means the time, steht means is written or stands, and die E-Mail means the email. Des Termins is genitive because it identifies whose time it is, and the finite verb steht is in position two.
Für diese Woche habe ich drei Termine.
I have three appointments this week.
Für means for, diese Woche means this week, and drei means three. Termine is plural and accusative because für forces the accusative; the finite verb habe is in position two.
Ich brauche einen Termin beim Arzt.
I need an appointment with the doctor.
Ich brauche means I need, brauchen means to need, and beim Arzt means at the doctor’s. Einen Termin is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; beim is short for bei dem, and bei forces the dative.
Der Arzt gibt mir einen neuen Termin.
The doctor gives me a new appointment.
Der Arzt is the doctor, gibt means gives, mir means to me, and neuen means new. Mir is dative for the recipient, while einen neuen Termin is accusative as the thing given; gibt is in position two.
die To-do-Liste — to-do list
This is a compound made from To-do and Liste. In ordinary German, the plural is To-do-Listen, not an English plural ending.
Die To-do-Liste liegt auf dem Tisch.
The to-do list is on the table.
liegt means is lying, and auf dem Tisch means on the table. Die To-do-Liste is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Ich schreibe die To-do-Liste heute.
I am writing the to-do list today.
schreibe means write and heute means today. Die To-do-Liste is accusative because schreiben takes a direct object; the finite verb schreibe stands in position two.
Ich arbeite mit der To-do-Liste.
I work with the to-do list.
arbeite means work and mit means with. Der To-do-Liste is dative because the preposition mit always requires the dative; the article changes from die to der.
Die Farbe der To-do-Liste ist blau.
The colour of the to-do list is blue.
die Farbe means the colour and blau means blue. Der To-do-Liste is genitive because it identifies whose colour is meant; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich habe drei To-do-Listen.
I have three to-do lists.
habe means have and drei means three. To-do-Listen is plural with -n; it is accusative because haben takes a direct object, although the plural article is not visible here.
täglich — daily, everyday
As an adjective, täglich stands before a noun and takes the normal adjective ending, as in tägliche Arbeit. It is related to the adverb täglich, which has no ending.
Ich mache meine täglichen Übungen.
I do my daily exercises.
meine Übungen means my exercises, and machen means to do. Täglichen stands before the plural noun Übungen and takes the ending -en after meine; the whole phrase is accusative because machen takes a direct object.
Das ist meine tägliche Aufgabe.
That is my daily task.
meine Aufgabe means my task. Tägliche stands before the feminine noun Aufgabe after meine, so it takes -e; after ist, the phrase is a predicate rather than an accusative object.
Eine tägliche Pause ist täglicher als eine Pause pro Woche.
A daily break is more frequent than a break once a week.
eine Pause means a break, and pro Woche means per week. Täglicher is the comparative and is followed by als for the comparison; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Diese Behandlung ist am täglichsten nötig.
This treatment is needed most frequently on a daily basis.
diese Behandlung means this treatment, and nötig means necessary. Am täglichsten is a predicative superlative formed with am; the verb ist comes in position two and nötig follows the subject complement.
Die tägliche Fahrt zur Arbeit dauert eine Stunde.
The daily journey to work takes an hour.
die Fahrt means the journey, zur Arbeit means to work, and dauert means takes or lasts. Tägliche has the feminine ending -e before Fahrt; the subject is nominative and the finite verb dauert is in position two.
täglich — daily, every day
As an adverb, täglich describes how often something happens and never takes an adjective ending. It is different from the adjective use before a noun, as in tägliche Arbeit.
Ich lese täglich die Nachrichten.
I read the news every day.
lesen means to read, and die Nachrichten means the news. Täglich is a time adverb and does not change its form; the finite verb lese stands in position two, and die Nachrichten is accusative.
Der Bus fährt täglich um sechs Uhr.
The bus runs every day at six o'clock.
der Bus means the bus, fährt means runs or goes, and um sechs Uhr means at six o'clock. Täglich stays unchanged as an adverb; the finite verb fährt is in position two.
die Uhr — clock, watch; time; o'clock, hour
Uhr can mean a clock or watch, and it is also used when telling the time, as in drei Uhr. It is feminine: the plural is Uhren, and the genitive singular is der Uhr.
Die Uhr ist kaputt.
The clock is broken.
kaputt means broken. Die Uhr is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich sehe die Uhr.
I look at the clock.
sehen means to see or look at. die Uhr is accusative because it is the direct object of sehe; the finite verb sehe stands in position two.
Ich vertraue der Uhr.
I trust the clock.
vertrauen means to trust. der Uhr is dative because vertrauen takes a dative object; this is a common trap because English uses no visible case ending here.
Die Batterie der Uhr ist leer.
The clock’s battery is empty.
die Batterie means the battery and leer means empty. der Uhr is genitive because it identifies whose battery it is; the feminine genitive article is der.
Die Uhren im Laden sind teuer.
The clocks in the shop are expensive.
im Laden means in the shop and teuer means expensive. Uhren is plural with die; im is short for in dem, and the finite verb sind stands in position two.
Der Film beginnt um drei Uhr.
The film starts at three o’clock.
der Film means the film and beginnt means starts. um drei Uhr is a time expression; um means at here, and the finite verb beginnt is in position two.
Wie spät ist Uhr?
What time is it?
wie spät means what time or how late. In natural German, the complete question is Wie spät ist es?; the fixed expression uses Uhr when a clock time is given, as in Es ist drei Uhr.
der Urlaubstag — vacation day, day of leave
This compound combines Urlaub, holiday or leave, with Tag, day. It usually means one paid day off work, not necessarily a day during a long trip.
Ich habe heute einen Urlaubstag.
I have a vacation day today.
heute means today, and haben means to have. Einen Urlaubstag is accusative because haben takes an accusative object; the finite verb habe is in position two.
Ich nehme morgen einen Urlaubstag.
I am taking a vacation day tomorrow.
nehme means take and morgen means tomorrow. Einen Urlaubstag is accusative because nehmen takes the thing taken as its direct object; morgen is an adverb of time.
Ich fahre an meinem Urlaubstag ans Meer.
I am going to the seaside on my vacation day.
fahre means travel or go by vehicle, ans Meer means to the seaside, and Meer means sea. An meinem Urlaubstag is dative because an means when or on a particular day here; the separable verb fahre ... an is not being used—the phrase is an meinem Urlaubstag, while fahre is the finite verb in position two.
Die Planung meines Urlaubstags ist schon fertig.
The planning for my vacation day is already finished.
Planung means planning and schon fertig means already finished. Meines Urlaubstags is genitive because it identifies which day's planning; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
In diesem Jahr habe ich fünf Urlaubstage.
This year I have five vacation days.
in diesem Jahr means this year and fünf means five. Urlaubstage is plural, and it is accusative because haben takes it as its object; after a number, the noun has no article.
verschlafen — to oversleep, to sleep through
Verschlafen is a strong verb with schläft - verschlief - hat verschlafen. Its ver- prefix is inseparable, and it can take an accusative object for what was missed, as in den Bus verschlafen.
Ich verschlafe oft am Montag.
I often oversleep on Mondays.
oft means often, and am Montag means on Monday. Ich is the nominative subject, and the finite verb verschlafe stands in position two; am is a contraction of an dem for a time expression.
Ich habe heute verschlafen.
I overslept today.
heute means today. The perfect uses habe plus the Partizip II verschlafen; the auxiliary is in position two and the unchanged Partizip II goes to the end.
Er verschlief den Unterricht.
He overslept and missed the lesson.
er means he, and den Unterricht means the lesson or class. Den Unterricht is accusative because it is the thing missed; the strong preterite verschlief stands in position two.
Verschlaf nicht wieder!
Don’t oversleep again!
nicht wieder means not again. Verschlaf is the du imperative and stands first; the subject du is normally omitted.
Wenn ich nicht so müde wäre, verschliefe ich nicht.
If I were not so tired, I would not oversleep.
wenn means if, and müde means tired. The Konjunktiv II form verschliefe expresses an unreal situation; in the subordinate clause the finite verb goes to the end.
Morgen werde ich bestimmt nicht verschlafen.
Tomorrow I definitely will not oversleep.
morgen means tomorrow, and bestimmt means definitely. Future uses werde in position two and the infinitive verschlafen at the end; nicht negates the action.
das Viertel — quarter; quarter of an hour; district; district, neighborhood
Das Viertel can mean one of four equal parts, a quarter of an hour, or a city district. Its plural is die Viertel with no ending, and the genitive is des Viertels.
Ein Viertel der Pizza ist noch da.
A quarter of the pizza is still there.
der Pizza means of the pizza, noch means still, and da means there. Ein Viertel is nominative because it is the subject; der Pizza is genitive after a quantity expression, and ist is in position two.
Ich esse ein Viertel der Pizza.
I am eating a quarter of the pizza.
esse means eat and der Pizza means of the pizza. Ein Viertel is accusative because it is the object of esse; der Pizza is genitive after the quantity expression.
Mit einem Viertel bin ich zufrieden.
I am satisfied with a quarter.
zufrieden means satisfied. Einem Viertel is dative because mit always takes the dative; bin is in position two, while zufrieden comes at the end of the clause.
Die Hälfte eines Viertels ist sehr klein.
Half of a quarter is very small.
die Hälfte means half and sehr klein means very small. Eines Viertels is genitive after die Hälfte to show what the half belongs to; the neuter noun adds -s.
Wir schneiden zwei Viertel in Stücke.
We cut two quarters into pieces.
schneiden means cut and in Stücke means into pieces. Zwei Viertel is accusative because it is the object of schneiden; the plural stays Viertel, with no ending.
Wir wohnen in einem ruhigen Viertel.
We live in a quiet neighborhood.
wohnen means live and ruhig means quiet. Einem ruhigen Viertel is dative because in describes a location here; the adjective takes -en after einem.
Das Viertel hat viele kleine Cafés.
The neighborhood has many small cafés.
viele kleine Cafés means many small cafés. Das Viertel is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb hat is in position two.
die Viertelstunde — quarter of an hour
Eine Viertelstunde is fifteen minutes. The plural is Viertelstunden; for clock times, German often uses Viertel nach or Viertel vor plus the hour.
Eine Viertelstunde ist schnell vorbei.
A quarter of an hour passes quickly.
schnell means quickly and vorbei means over or past. Eine Viertelstunde is nominative because it is the subject, and ist is in position two.
Ich warte eine Viertelstunde.
I am waiting for a quarter of an hour.
warte means wait. Eine Viertelstunde is accusative because it expresses the duration of the waiting; it has the same form as the nominative, but the verb is still in position two.
Nach einer Viertelstunde kommt der Bus.
The bus comes after a quarter of an hour.
nach means after and kommt means comes. Einer Viertelstunde is dative because nach takes the dative; the phrase comes first, so kommt is in position two.
Das Ende der Viertelstunde ist nah.
The end of the quarter-hour is near.
das Ende means the end and nah means near. Der Viertelstunde is genitive because it identifies which quarter-hour; the feminine genitive article is der.
Drei Viertelstunden später ist die Arbeit fertig.
Three quarters of an hour later, the work is finished.
später means later, die Arbeit means the work, and fertig means finished. Viertelstunden is plural and adds -n; because the time phrase comes first, ist remains in position two.
vorgestern — the day before yesterday
Ich bin vorgestern in Berlin angekommen.
I arrived in Berlin the day before yesterday.
bin angekommen means arrived, and Berlin is a city in Germany. Vorgestern is a time adverb and does not change form; in the perfect, the finite auxiliary bin is in position two and angekommen goes to the end.
Warst du vorgestern zu Hause?
Were you at home the day before yesterday?
zu Hause means at home, and warst du means were you. In a yes-no question, the finite verb warst comes first; vorgestern is an unchanged time adverb placed after the subject here.
vorher — beforehand; before that
Vorher refers back to a time or event already understood from the context. It is an adverb, so it has no case ending; do not confuse it with the preposition vor, which must be followed by a noun phrase.
Ich muss vorher noch einkaufen.
I still have to go shopping beforehand.
noch means still and einkaufen means go shopping. Vorher is an adverb of time; it can stand before the finite verb for emphasis, while muss remains in position two and the infinitive goes to the end.
Ruf mich bitte vorher an.
Please call me beforehand.
ruf ... an means call and mich means me. Vorher gives the time of the call, and the separable verb anrufen appears as ruf ... an in this informal imperative.
der Vormittag — morning, before midday; morning period
Der Vormittag is the part of the day before midday. Do not confuse it with der Morgen, which usually means the early morning; the compound Vormittag covers the later morning as well.
Der Vormittag ist heute ruhig.
The morning is quiet today.
ruhig means quiet and heute means today. Der Vormittag is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich genieße den Vormittag.
I enjoy the morning.
ich means I and genießen means to enjoy. Den Vormittag is accusative because genießen takes a direct object; the finite verb genieße is in position two.
Am Vormittag trinke ich Kaffee.
In the morning, I drink coffee.
am means in the and Kaffee means coffee. Am Vormittag is short for an dem Vormittag, and an takes the dative here because this expression gives a time; the verb trinke is in position two.
Die Ruhe des Vormittags tut mir gut.
The calm of the morning does me good.
die Ruhe means the calm, gut tun means to do good, and mir means to me. Des Vormittags is genitive because it identifies whose calm it is; the finite verb tut is in position two.
Die Vormittage sind oft stressig.
The mornings are often stressful.
oft means often and stressig means stressful. Die Vormittage is the plural subject, so the verb is sind, not singular ist.
Der Arzt hat am Vormittag Termine.
The doctor has appointments in the morning.
der Arzt means the doctor and Termine means appointments. Am Vormittag is dative after an in a time expression, while hat is the finite verb in position two.
Wir treffen uns vormittags im Büro.
We meet in the office in the mornings.
wir means we, sich treffen means to meet, and im Büro means in the office. Vormittags is an adverb meaning in the mornings; uns is the reflexive pronoun, and treffen is in position two.
wann — when
Wann asks about a time or introduces an indirect question about time. Do not confuse it with wenn, which usually introduces a condition or a repeated event.
Wann beginnt der Film?
When does the film begin?
beginnen means to begin and der Film is the film. Wann asks about the time; because it is the question word in a direct question, the finite verb beginnt comes directly after it.
Ich weiß nicht, wann der Bus kommt.
I do not know when the bus is coming.
wissen means to know, nicht means not, and der Bus is the bus. The clause beginning with wann is a subordinate clause, so the finite verb kommt moves to the end; do not confuse wann with wenn, which usually means when in a condition or repeated situation.
der Wecker — alarm clock
The plural of der Wecker is die Wecker, with no ending change. Do not confuse the noun with wecken, which means “to wake someone up”.
Der Wecker klingelt um sechs Uhr.
The alarm clock rings at six.
klingelt means “rings” and um sechs Uhr means “at six o’clock”. Der Wecker is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb klingelt stands in position two.
Ich stelle den Wecker auf sieben Uhr.
I set the alarm clock for seven.
stelle means “set”, auf sieben Uhr means “for seven o’clock”, and stellen means “to place or set”. den Wecker is accusative because it is the direct object of stelle; the phrase auf sieben Uhr gives the set time.
Ich vertraue dem Wecker nicht.
I do not trust the alarm clock.
vertraue means “trust” and nicht means “not”. The verb vertrauen takes a dative object, so dem Wecker is dative; the finite verb remains in position two.
Das Klingeln des Weckers hat mich erschreckt.
The ringing of the alarm clock frightened me.
das Klingeln is “the ringing”, mich means “me”, and erschreckt means “frightened”. des Weckers is genitive because it expresses whose ringing it is; hat is the auxiliary in position two and erschreckt is at the end.
Im Hotel stehen drei Wecker auf dem Tisch.
There are three alarm clocks on the table in the hotel.
im Hotel means “in the hotel”, drei means “three”, stehen means “are standing”, and auf dem Tisch means “on the table”. Wecker is plural after drei; dem Tisch is dative because auf describes a fixed location here.
der Winter — winter
For a particular time of year, German usually uses im Winter, meaning in winter. The plural is unchanged: der Winter, die Winter.
Der Winter ist kalt.
Winter is cold.
kalt means cold. Der Winter is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich mag den Winter.
I like winter.
mögen means to like. Den Winter is accusative because mögen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Im Winter fahre ich oft Ski.
In winter I often go skiing.
fahren means to go or ride, and oft means often. im Winter means in winter; in takes the dative here because this is a time expression, not movement into a place.
Die Kälte des Winters ist stark.
The cold of winter is intense.
die Kälte means the cold and stark means intense or strong. des Winters is genitive because it means of winter, and the masculine noun adds -s.
Die Winter in Kanada sind lang.
The winters in Canada are long.
Kanada is Canada and lang means long. Winter can be singular or plural in spelling; here die and sind show that it is plural and nominative.
die Woche — week
The fixed phrase unter der Woche means during the working week, while am Wochenende means at the weekend. German uses eine Woche for one week but zwei Wochen after numbers.
Die Woche beginnt am Montag.
The week begins on Monday.
beginnen means to begin, and Montag is Monday. Die Woche is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb beginnt is in position two, and am Montag gives the time.
Ich plane die Woche.
I am planning the week.
planen means to plan. Ich is I. Die Woche is accusative because it is the direct object of plane; the feminine article looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Am Ende der Woche treffe ich meine Freunde.
At the end of the week, I meet my friends.
am Ende means at the end, and treffen means to meet. meine Freunde means my friends. Am is an dem, which forces dative for Ende; der Woche is also dative after the preposition an in this time expression.
Am Anfang der Woche habe ich viel Arbeit.
At the beginning of the week, I have a lot of work.
am Anfang means at the beginning, and viel Arbeit means a lot of work. Der Woche is genitive because it identifies whose beginning it is: the beginning of the week. The finite verb habe remains in position two.
Wir fahren drei Wochen nach Italien.
We are going to Italy for three weeks.
fahren means to travel or go by vehicle, and Italien is Italy. drei Wochen means three weeks. After a number, use the plural Wochen; this duration phrase is an accusative time expression without an article.
das Wochenende — weekend
The usual expression is am Wochenende, literally at the weekend. Wochenende is neuter, so use das Wochenende, not die Wochenende.
Das Wochenende beginnt am Samstag.
The weekend begins on Saturday.
beginnen means to begin, and Samstag is Saturday. Das Wochenende is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb beginnt stands in position two.
Ich genieße das Wochenende.
I enjoy the weekend.
genießen means to enjoy. Ich means I. Das Wochenende is accusative because it is the direct object of genieße; the neuter article das does not change in the accusative.
Am Wochenende schlafe ich lange.
At the weekend, I sleep late.
schlafen means to sleep, and lange means for a long time or late in this context. Am Wochenende means at the weekend: am is an dem, so Wochenende is dative. Because the time phrase comes first, schlafe still occupies position two before the subject ich.
Die Pläne des Wochenendes sind noch offen.
The weekend's plans are still undecided.
die Pläne means the plans, and offen means undecided or open. noch means still. Des Wochenendes is genitive to show whose plans they are; the noun adds -s and the article is des.
Wir verbringen zwei Wochenenden am Meer.
We spend two weekends by the sea.
verbringen means to spend time, and zwei means two. am Meer means by the sea. Zwei Wochenenden is plural and accusative because it is the object of verbringen; the plural ending is -n.
der Wochentag — day of the week; weekday
Wochentag can mean any named day, but in contrast with Wochenende it often means a weekday from Monday to Friday. The compound is built from Woche plus Tag.
Der Wochentag steht im Kalender.
The day of the week is shown in the calendar.
stehen means to stand or be written, and der Kalender is the calendar. Der Wochentag is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb steht is in position two.
Ich kenne den Wochentag.
I know the day of the week.
kennen means to know a person, place, or thing. Ich means I. Den Wochentag is accusative because it is the direct object of kenne; the masculine article changes from der to den.
An welchem Wochentag hast du Zeit?
On which day of the week do you have time?
welchem means which in the dative, and Zeit haben means to have time. An welchem Wochentag asks on which day; an takes dative in this time expression, so Wochentag has the article form welchem.
Die Farbe des Wochentages ist im Kalender markiert.
The colour of the day of the week is marked in the calendar.
die Farbe means the colour, markiert means marked, and im Kalender means in the calendar. Des Wochentages is genitive because it means of the day of the week; the masculine article is des and the noun adds -es.
Die sieben Wochentage haben Namen.
The seven days of the week have names.
sieben means seven, and Namen means names. Die sieben Wochentage is nominative plural because it is the subject of haben; the plural ending is -e.
die Zeit — time; period; times
For general time, die Zeit is usually uncountable and has no plural in that meaning. The plural die Zeiten refers to separate periods or historical circumstances, as in frühere Zeiten.
Die Zeit vergeht schnell.
Time passes quickly.
vergeht means passes, and schnell means quickly. Die Zeit is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb vergeht stands in position two.
Ich habe heute keine Zeit.
I have no time today.
heute means today, and keine Zeit means no time. keine Zeit is accusative because haben takes an accusative object; keine negates the noun.
Kannst du mir etwas Zeit geben?
Can you give me some time?
kannst du means can you, mir means to me, and etwas means some or a little. mir is dative as the recipient, while etwas Zeit is accusative as the thing given; the infinitive geben goes to the end in the question.
Die Länge der Zeit ist schwer zu messen.
The length of time is difficult to measure.
die Länge means the length, schwer means difficult, and zu messen means to measure. der Zeit is genitive and means “of time”; zu messen follows the adjective phrase at the end.
Früher waren die Zeiten anders.
Things were different in the past.
früher means in the past, and anders means different. Zeiten is plural and nominative as the subject; waren is the plural past form of sein.
In dieser Zeit lebte sie in Berlin.
During this period, she lived in Berlin.
dieser means this, lebte means lived, and in Berlin means in Berlin. in dieser Zeit is dative because it describes a period or location in time; the finite verb lebte comes after the fronted phrase and the place phrase remains before the verb’s complement.
Die Menschen jener Zeiten hatten andere Probleme.
The people of those times had different problems.
die Menschen means the people, jener Zeiten means of those times, and andere Probleme means different problems. jener Zeiten is a genitive plural phrase showing which times are meant; andere Probleme is accusative after hatten.
zuerst — first, first of all
Zuerst marks the first step or event in a sequence. It is often used with dann (“then”) or zuletzt (“lastly”); when it begins the sentence, the finite verb still stays in position two.
Zuerst mache ich Frühstück.
First I make breakfast.
mache means “make” and Frühstück means “breakfast”. Zuerst is in position one, so the finite verb mache comes next in position two; the subject ich follows the verb.
Wir putzen zuerst die Küche.
We clean the kitchen first.
putzen means “clean” and die Küche means “the kitchen”. Zuerst indicates the order of the action and can stand in the middle of the clause; die Küche is accusative because putzen takes a direct object.
die Zukunft — future
Die Zukunft is normally uncountable when it means future time, so it is usually used in the singular. The plural Zukünfte is used for different possible futures.
Die Zukunft ist noch offen.
The future is still open.
offen means open or undecided. Die Zukunft is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Wir planen die Zukunft.
We are planning the future.
wir means we, and planen means to plan. Die Zukunft is accusative because planen takes a direct object; the finite verb planen stands in position two.
Wir geben der Zukunft eine Chance.
We are giving the future a chance.
geben means to give, and eine Chance means a chance. Der Zukunft is dative because the future is the recipient, while eine Chance is the accusative thing being given.
Die Chancen der Zukunft sind groß.
The opportunities of the future are great.
die Chancen means the opportunities, and groß means great or considerable. Der Zukunft is genitive because it describes whose opportunities they are; the genitive phrase follows the noun Chancen.
Viele Menschen hoffen auf bessere Zukünfte.
Many people hope for better futures.
viele Menschen means many people, hoffen auf means hope for, and bessere means better. Zukünfte is plural and is accusative after auf here because hoffen auf expresses what someone hopes for, not a physical location.
übermorgen — the day after tomorrow
Übermorgen refers to the day after tomorrow and can stand at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence. It is written as one word, unlike the phrase am übernächsten Tag, “on the day after the next day.”
Wir fahren übermorgen nach Berlin.
We are travelling to Berlin the day after tomorrow.
fahren means “travel/go,” and nach Berlin means “to Berlin.” Übermorgen is a time adverb in position three, while the finite verb fahren remains in position two.
Kannst du die Aufgabe bis übermorgen machen?
Can you do the task by the day after tomorrow?
die Aufgabe means “the task,” and bis means “by/until.” Bis übermorgen gives a time limit; the modal kannst is in position two and the infinitive machen goes to the end.