Appearance
Vocab: Time — A2 (2) ​
Time vocabulary at A2 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
die Phase — phase; stage; period ​
Phase is used for a recognisable stage in a longer process, such as a project, illness, or relationship. For a short part of a lesson or event, Abschnitt or Teil may be more natural.
Die Phase dauert zwei Wochen.
The phase lasts two weeks.
dauert means lasts and zwei Wochen means two weeks. Die Phase is nominative because it is the subject of dauert, and the finite verb stands in position two.
Wir beginnen die Phase morgen.
We are starting the phase tomorrow.
wir beginnen means we start, and morgen means tomorrow. Die Phase is accusative because beginnen takes a direct object; the time word morgen is in the final position here.
In der Phase lernt das Kind viel.
During the phase, the child learns a lot.
in der Phase means during the phase, lernt means learns, and das Kind means the child. In takes the dative because this phrase describes a period in which something happens, so der Phase is dative.
Das Ende der Phase ist nicht klar.
The end of the phase is not clear.
das Ende means the end and nicht klar means not clear. Der Phase is genitive after das Ende to show which phase has ended; the verb ist is in position two.
Das Projekt hat drei Phasen.
The project has three phases.
das Projekt means the project, hat means has, and drei means three. Phasen is plural and accusative because it is the direct object of hat; the plural ending -n must not be omitted.
Nach dieser Phase beginnt der nächste Schritt.
After this phase, the next step begins.
nach dieser Phase means after this phase, beginnt means begins, and der nächste Schritt means the next step. Nach always takes the dative, so dieser Phase is dative; because the prepositional phrase comes first, beginnt still comes in position two.
plötzlich — sudden, unexpected; suddenly ​
plötzlich describes something that happens without warning. It can be predicative without an ending, as in Es ist plötzlich, or attributive with an adjective ending, as in eine plötzliche Änderung.
Der Lärm war plötzlich.
The noise was sudden.
Der Lärm means the noise, and war means was. plötzlich comes after the linking verb war, so it is predicative and has no adjective ending.
Wir hörten ein plötzliches Geräusch.
We heard a sudden noise.
hörten means heard, and ein Geräusch is a noise. Geräusch is accusative because hören takes a direct object; plötzliches has -es because the neuter noun follows ein.
Sein Ende kam plötzlicher als erwartet.
His ending came more suddenly than expected.
Sein Ende means his ending, kam means came, and als erwartet means than expected. plötzlicher compares two ways or moments and is followed by als, while the finite verb kam is in position two.
Der plötzlichste Wechsel war schwer zu verstehen.
The most sudden change was difficult to understand.
der Wechsel means the change, and schwer zu verstehen means difficult to understand. plötzlichste is the superlative before a masculine nominative noun and takes -ste plus the adjective ending -e; the finite verb war is in position two.
Plötzlich begann es zu regnen.
Suddenly, it began to rain.
begann means began, and zu regnen means to rain. Plötzlich is an adverb at the start of the sentence, so the finite verb begann comes immediately after it in position two.
Sie stand plötzlich vor der Tür.
She was suddenly standing in front of the door.
stand means stood or was standing, and vor der Tür means in front of the door. plötzlich modifies the verb phrase; vor takes the dative here because the phrase describes a location, not movement towards it.
plötzlich — suddenly ​
As an adverb, plötzlich describes an action or event that happens unexpectedly. It does not take an adjective ending, so it always remains plötzlich.
Plötzlich begann es zu regnen.
Suddenly, it began to rain.
begann means began, and zu regnen means to rain. Plötzlich is an adverb at the start of the sentence, so the finite verb begann comes immediately after it in position two.
Sie stand plötzlich vor der Tür.
She was suddenly standing in front of the door.
stand means stood or was standing, and vor der Tür means in front of the door. plötzlich modifies the verb phrase; vor takes the dative here because the phrase describes a location, not movement towards it.
rechtzeitig — on time, in time ​
Rechtzeitig means early enough for a purpose, while pünktlich focuses more directly on an agreed time. The opposite is zu spät, meaning too late.
Der Zug ist rechtzeitig.
The train is on time.
der Zug is the train, and ist means is. Rechtzeitig is predicative after sein, so it has no adjective ending and describes the subject.
Wir brauchen eine rechtzeitige Antwort.
We need a timely answer.
brauchen means need, and eine Antwort is an answer. Rechtzeitige stands before the feminine accusative noun Antwort and takes the ending -e after eine.
Heute mĂĽssen wir rechtzeitiger losfahren als gestern.
Today we have to leave earlier than yesterday.
heute means today, losfahren means set off, and gestern means yesterday. Rechtzeitiger compares today with yesterday; als introduces the second part of the comparison.
Am rechtzeitigsten kommt man mit dem ersten Bus.
You arrive most reliably on time with the first bus.
kommt man means one arrives, der erste Bus is the first bus, and mit means with. The superlative is am rechtzeitigsten after the verb; mit dem ersten Bus is dative because mit requires dative.
regelmäßig — regular, regularly occurring ​
Regelmäßig describes repeated events that follow a pattern, and it can also mean “regularly” when it describes an action. The opposite is unregelmäßig, meaning irregular or irregularly.
Der Bus ist regelmäßig.
The bus is regular and reliable.
der Bus means the bus, and ist means is. Regelmäßig is predicative after sein, so it has no adjective ending; Der Bus is nominative because it is the subject.
Ich mache regelmäßige Pausen bei der Arbeit.
I take regular breaks at work.
mache means take or make, Pausen means breaks, and bei der Arbeit means at work. regelmäßige stands before the plural accusative noun Pausen and takes -e after the zero plural article; the whole phrase is the object of mache.
Mit einem regelmäßigeren Training fühle ich mich besser.
With more regular training, I feel better.
Training means training, fühle ich mich means I feel, and besser means better. regelmäßigeren is comparative and takes -en because mit governs the dative; the prepositional phrase comes first, so fühle is still in position two.
Sie arbeitet am regelmäßigsten von allen.
She works most regularly of all.
arbeitet means works, and von allen means of all of them. am regelmäßigsten is the adverbial superlative and does not stand before a noun; von allen is a comparison phrase with von plus dative.
die Schulzeit — school days, time at school ​
Die Schulzeit can mean the whole period of attending school or a person's school days. It is often used when talking about memories and experiences from the past.
Meine Schulzeit war sehr schön.
My school days were very nice.
Meine means my, war means was, and sehr schön means very nice. Meine Schulzeit is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb war stands in position two.
Ich vermisse meine Schulzeit.
I miss my school days.
Ich vermisse means I miss, and meine means my. Meine Schulzeit is accusative because vermissen takes an accusative object; the finite verb vermisse is in position two.
In der Schulzeit habe ich viele Freunde gefunden.
I made many friends during my school years.
In der Schulzeit means during my school years, viele Freunde means many friends, and gefunden means found or made in this context. In takes the dative for a fixed time or location, so der Schulzeit is dative; habe is in position two and gefunden goes to the end.
Die Erinnerungen der Schulzeit bleiben lange.
The memories of one's school days remain for a long time.
Die Erinnerungen are the memories, bleiben means remain, and lange means for a long time. Der Schulzeit is genitive because it says which memories are meant; bleiben stands in position two.
Frühe Schulzeiten können schwierig sein.
The early school years can be difficult.
Frühe means early, können means can, and schwierig means difficult. Schulzeiten is the plural subject; with the modal können, the infinitive sein goes to the end, and frühe has a plural adjective ending.
solange — for that long, so long ​
As an adverb, solange means for that length of time and does not change the word order of the clause. When it links two clauses and puts the verb at the end, it is the conjunction.
Du kannst solange hier warten.
You can wait here for that long.
hier means here, and warten means to wait. As an adverb, solange does not introduce a subordinate clause; the finite verb kannst remains in position two.
Ich habe noch nie solange auf einen Bus gewartet.
I have never waited that long for a bus.
noch nie means never before, and auf einen Bus warten means to wait for a bus. Here solange is an adverb meaning for that long; in the perfect, habe is in position two and gewartet goes to the end.
spät — late ​
Spät can describe a late time or a person who arrives late. Its comparison is regular: spät, später, am spätesten; the opposite is früh.
Der Zug ist spät.
The train is late.
der Zug is the train, and ist means is. Spät is predicative after sein, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Wir nehmen einen späten Zug.
We are taking a late train.
nehmen means take, and einen Zug means a train. Späten stands before the masculine accusative noun Zug and takes -en after einen; the finite verb nehmen is in position two.
Heute komme ich später nach Hause als gestern.
Today I am coming home later than yesterday.
heute means today, nach Hause means home, and gestern means yesterday. Später compares today with yesterday and is followed by als; the finite verb komme stands in position two.
Am Samstag bin ich am spätesten zu Hause.
On Saturday I am home latest.
am Samstag means on Saturday, and zu Hause means at home. Am spätesten is the superlative used adverbially; bin is in position two, while zu Hause completes the predicate.
spät — late, late on ​
As an adverb, spät modifies a verb and never takes an adjective ending. It can also be compared: später means later and am spätesten means latest.
Ich komme heute spät nach Hause.
I am coming home late today.
heute means today, and nach Hause means home. Spät is an adverb modifying komme, so it does not take an ending; the finite verb komme stands in position two.
Bitte ruf mich nicht spät an.
Please do not call me late.
bitte means please, ruf ... an means call, and mich means me. Spät tells when the calling happens; in the imperative, the separable verb has ruf at the front and an at the end.
der Start — start, beginning; take-off ​
Der Start can mean the beginning of an event or the moment when a vehicle or aircraft sets off. Do not confuse it with the verb starten, to start or take off.
Der Start ist um acht Uhr.
The start is at eight o'clock.
um acht Uhr means at eight o'clock. Der Start is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir sehen den Start im Fernsehen.
We are watching the start on television.
wir means we, and im Fernsehen means on television. Den Start is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; im is short for in dem.
Alle freuen sich auf den Start.
Everyone is looking forward to the start.
alle means everyone, and sich freuen means to be happy or look forward to something. The fixed expression sich auf etwas freuen takes auf plus the accusative, so den Start is accusative; this example is labelled by the requested dative slot only in the noun matrix, not because the noun is dative.
Die Spannung vor dem Start ist groĂź.
The tension before the start is high.
die Spannung is the tension, vor means before, and groĂź means high or great. Dem Start is dative after vor because it gives a time relation; the genitive idea is shown by the whole phrase vor dem Start, not by a genitive noun form.
Die Starts der Flugzeuge verzögern sich.
The aircraft departures are delayed.
der Flugzeuge means of the aircraft, and sich verzögern means to be delayed. Starts is the plural with -s; der Flugzeuge is a genitive phrase showing whose starts they are.
ständig — constant, continual; frequent ​
Ständig can mean literally continuous or, in everyday speech, happening again and again. It is often stronger than oft, which only means often.
Der Lärm ist ständig.
The noise is constant.
Der Lärm means the noise. Ständig is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Er hat ständige Kopfschmerzen.
He has constant headaches.
Er means he and Kopfschmerzen means headaches. Ständige Kopfschmerzen is the accusative object of hat, and the adjective takes -e after the plural form with no article.
Heute regnet es ständiger als gestern.
Today it is raining more continuously than yesterday.
Heute means today, regnet means rains, and gestern means yesterday. Ständiger als means more continuously than; the comparative is predicative or adverbial here and therefore has no adjective ending.
Im Winter ist der Verkehr am ständigsten.
In winter, the traffic is most constant.
Im Winter means in winter and der Verkehr means the traffic. Im is in dem, dative for a time or location; am ständigsten is the predicative superlative after ist.
der Tagesablauf — daily routine, daily schedule ​
der Tagesablauf is a compound of der Tag and der Ablauf and describes the order of activities in a day. It is useful for talking about routines, schedules and everyday habits.
Mein Tagesablauf ist ziemlich regelmäßig.
My daily routine is quite regular.
mein means my, ziemlich means quite, and regelmäßig means regular. Mein Tagesablauf is nominative because it is the subject; the verb ist stands in position two.
Ich ändere meinen Tagesablauf.
I am changing my daily routine.
ändern means to change and meinen means my in the masculine accusative. meinen Tagesablauf is accusative because it is the object of ändere; the masculine ending changes from mein to meinen.
Mit einem festen Tagesablauf schlafe ich besser.
With a fixed daily routine, I sleep better.
fest means fixed and schlafe means sleep. mit always takes dative, so einem festen Tagesablauf is dative; because the phrase comes first, schlafe still occupies position two.
Die Struktur des Tagesablaufs hilft mir.
The structure of the daily routine helps me.
die Struktur means the structure and hilft means helps. des Tagesablaufs is genitive because it shows whose structure it is, while mir is dative because helfen takes a dative person.
Viele Tagesabläufe sehen ähnlich aus.
Many daily routines look similar.
viele means many and ähnlich means similar. Tagesabläufe is plural and the subject; the separable verb aussehen appears as sehen ... aus, with the finite part in position two.
der Terminkalender — appointment calendar, planner ​
Terminkalender is a compound of Termin and Kalender. Its plural is unchanged: der Terminkalender becomes die Terminkalender.
Mein Terminkalender liegt auf dem Tisch.
My appointment calendar is on the table.
Mein means my, liegt means lies or is, and auf dem Tisch means on the table. Mein Terminkalender is nominative because it is the subject; auf dem Tisch is dative because auf describes a fixed location.
Ich öffne den Terminkalender jeden Morgen.
I open the appointment calendar every morning.
Ich öffne means I open, and jeden Morgen means every morning. Den Terminkalender is accusative because öffnen takes a direct object, and the finite verb öffne is in position two.
Ich vertraue dem Terminkalender nicht ganz.
I do not completely trust the appointment calendar.
Vertraue means trust, nicht ganz means not completely. Dem Terminkalender is dative because vertrauen always takes a dative person or thing; the finite verb vertraue is in position two.
Die Ăśbersicht des Terminkalenders ist sehr hilfreich.
The overview of the appointment calendar is very useful.
Die Ăśbersicht means the overview, and hilfreich means useful. Des Terminkalenders is genitive because it identifies which calendar the overview belongs to; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Die Terminkalender liegen im BĂĽro.
The appointment calendars are in the office.
Liegen means lie or are, and im BĂĽro means in the office. Terminkalender is plural without an ending because Kalender has the same singular and plural form; im BĂĽro is dative because it describes a fixed location.
der Unglückstag — day of bad luck, unlucky day ​
This compound combines das UnglĂĽck, meaning bad luck or misfortune, with der Tag, meaning day. It normally describes a whole day marked by several problems, not just one unlucky event.
Der UnglĂĽckstag beginnt schon am Morgen.
The unlucky day begins in the morning.
beginnt means begins and schon am Morgen means already in the morning. Der UnglĂĽckstag is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb beginnt stands in position two.
Ich vergesse den UnglĂĽckstag nicht.
I will not forget the unlucky day.
ich vergesse means I forget, and nicht means not. den UnglĂĽckstag is accusative because vergessen takes an accusative object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
An dem UnglĂĽckstag ging alles schief.
On that unlucky day, everything went wrong.
an dem Tag means on that day, alles means everything, and schiefgehen means to go wrong. an takes the dative for a fixed time or location, so der becomes dem; the verb ging is in position two.
Die Folgen des UnglĂĽckstags waren teuer.
The consequences of the unlucky day were expensive.
die Folgen are the consequences and teuer means expensive. des UnglĂĽckstags shows possession or connection and is genitive; this masculine noun adds -s in the genitive singular.
In diesem Monat gab es drei UnglĂĽckstage.
There were three unlucky days this month.
in diesem Monat means this month, gab es means there were, and drei means three. UnglĂĽckstage is the plural after drei; with es gibt or its past form es gab, the noun is grammatically accusative even though the plural form looks the same as nominative.
vereinbaren — to arrange; to agree on; to agree on; to settle ​
For an appointment or arrangement, vereinbaren normally takes an accusative object: einen Termin vereinbaren. For agreeing with another person, use sich mit jemandem vereinbaren less commonly; the usual everyday verb for reaching an agreement is sich einigen.
Ich vereinbare einen Termin beim Arzt.
I am arranging an appointment with the doctor.
einen Termin means an appointment, beim Arzt means at the doctor’s, and Arzt means doctor. einen Termin is accusative because vereinbaren takes a direct object, while beim means bei dem and takes the dative.
Wir haben einen Termin beim Zahnarzt vereinbart.
We arranged an appointment with the dentist.
Zahnarzt means dentist, and einen Termin means an appointment. einen Termin is accusative as the object, while haben stands in position two and the Partizip II vereinbart goes to the end.
Die beiden Firmen vereinbarten einen neuen Preis.
The two companies agreed on a new price.
die beiden Firmen means the two companies, and einen neuen Preis means a new price. einen neuen Preis is accusative because it is the object of vereinbarten, a regular weak verb in the Präteritum.
Vereinbare bitte einen Gesprächstermin.
Please arrange an appointment for a conversation.
bitte means please, and einen Gesprächstermin means an appointment for a conversation. The object is accusative after vereinbare, and the subject du is normally left out in an imperative.
Wenn du frĂĽher anrufst, vereinbarst du einen Termin.
If you call earlier, you will arrange an appointment.
wenn means if, frĂĽher means earlier, and anrufst means call. This sentence expresses a condition rather than true Konjunktiv II; the subordinate-clause verb anrufst goes to the end, and vereinbarst returns to position two in the main clause.
Morgen wird sie einen Termin vereinbaren.
Tomorrow she will arrange an appointment.
morgen means tomorrow, and sie means she. einen Termin is accusative because it is the object of vereinbaren; wird is in position two and the infinitive goes to the end.
Die Parteien vereinbaren gemeinsame Regeln.
The parties agree on common rules.
die Parteien means the parties, and gemeinsame Regeln means common rules. gemeinsame Regeln is accusative because it is the direct object of vereinbaren, and the finite verb stands in position two.
Wir haben klare Bedingungen vereinbart.
We agreed on clear conditions.
klare Bedingungen means clear conditions, and haben ... vereinbart means have agreed. klare Bedingungen is accusative as the object, while the auxiliary haben is in position two and vereinbart goes at the end.
die Vergangenheit — past ​
This abstract noun normally has no everyday plural; Vergangenheiten is used when different histories or past experiences are compared.
Die Vergangenheit kann man nicht ändern.
You cannot change the past.
ändern means to change, and kann means can. Die Vergangenheit is nominative because it is the subject; the modal verb kann is in position two and the infinitive ändern goes to the end.
Wir sprechen oft ĂĽber die Vergangenheit.
We often talk about the past.
oft means often, and sprechen über means to talk about. die Vergangenheit is accusative because the preposition über means “about” here and takes the accusative; the finite verb sprechen stands in position two.
Sie erzählt ihren Kindern von der Vergangenheit.
She tells her children about the past.
erzählen means to tell, ihren Kindern means her children, and von means from or about. der Vergangenheit is dative because von always takes the dative, while ihren Kindern is also dative as the indirect object of erzählen.
Die Folgen der Vergangenheit sind noch sichtbar.
The consequences of the past are still visible.
die Folgen are the consequences, noch means still, and sichtbar means visible. der Vergangenheit is genitive because it identifies whose consequences they are; the finite verb sind is in position two.
Viele Vergangenheiten treffen in dieser Stadt aufeinander.
Many different pasts meet in this city.
viele means many, dieser Stadt means this city, and aufeinandertreffen means to meet or come together. Vergangenheiten is plural and nominative because it is the subject; the ending -en is used with the plural article or determiner viele.
verlegen — to misplace; to postpone or reschedule; to publish ​
For an object that cannot be found, verlegen means to misplace; for an event, it means to postpone or reschedule. It is not separable: verlegt does not become legt ... ver.
Ich verlege meine Schlüssel ständig.
I am always misplacing my keys.
ständig means constantly, and meine Schlüssel means my keys. meine Schlüssel is accusative because verlegen takes the thing that is misplaced as an accusative object; the finite verb verlege stands in position two.
Ich habe meinen Pass verlegt.
I have misplaced my passport.
mein Pass means my passport. meinen Pass is accusative because it is the object of verlegen; the perfect uses haben, and verlegt goes to the end of the clause.
Sie verlegte den Termin auf Freitag.
She moved the appointment to Friday.
der Termin is the appointment and Freitag is Friday. den Termin is accusative because it is what she moved, while auf Freitag gives the new time; the weak-verb preterite verlegte is in position two.
Verleg die Sitzung bitte.
Please postpone the meeting.
die Sitzung means the meeting and bitte means please. The imperative verleg addresses du and takes die Sitzung in the accusative; the subject pronoun is normally omitted.
Ich wĂĽrde den Termin nicht verlegen.
I would not postpone the appointment.
nicht means not and der Termin is the appointment. den Termin is accusative because it is the object; wĂĽrde ... verlegen expresses a hypothetical idea, with the infinitive at the end.
Wir werden die Reise auf nächste Woche verlegen.
We will move the trip to next week.
die Reise means the trip and nächste Woche means next week. die Reise is accusative, and werden stands in position two while the infinitive verlegen goes to the end.
Der Verlag verlegt viele KinderbĂĽcher.
The publishing house publishes many children's books.
der Verlag is the publishing house and viele KinderbĂĽcher means many children's books. viele KinderbĂĽcher is accusative because the publishing house publishes them; the finite verb verlegt is in position two.
Dieser Verlag hat den Roman verlegt.
This publishing house published the novel.
dieser Verlag means this publishing house and der Roman is the novel. den Roman is accusative as the published work; hat carries the perfect and verlegt stands at the end.
verschieben — to postpone, to move; to move, to shift ​
Verschieben is a strong verb: verschieben – verschob – hat verschoben. In the first sense it normally takes an accusative object such as einen Termin; the inseparable prefix ver- means the verb does not split.
Der Arzt verschiebt den Termin.
The doctor is postponing the appointment.
Der Arzt means the doctor and der Termin means the appointment. Den Termin is accusative because verschieben takes a direct object, and the finite verb verschiebt stands in position two.
Wir haben die PrĂĽfung verschoben.
We postponed the exam.
die PrĂĽfung means the exam. Die PrĂĽfung is accusative because it is the object of verschieben; haben is in position two and verschoben goes to the end as the Partizip II.
Die Firma verschob das Treffen auf Freitag.
The company postponed the meeting until Friday.
Die Firma means the company, das Treffen means the meeting, and auf Freitag means until Friday. Das Treffen is accusative after verschieben; verschob is the strong-verb past form and stands in position two.
Verschieb den Termin bitte!
Please postpone the appointment!
bitte means please and der Termin means the appointment. Verschieb is the singular du imperative, with the subject omitted; den Termin is accusative because it is the direct object.
Ich wĂĽrde die Reise gern verschieben.
I would gladly postpone the trip.
die Reise means the trip and gern means gladly or would like to. WĂĽrde ... verschieben expresses a hypothetical wish, with the finite verb wĂĽrde in position two and the infinitive at the end; die Reise is accusative.
Wir werden das Treffen auf nächste Woche verschieben.
We will postpone the meeting until next week.
das Treffen means the meeting and nächste Woche means next week. Werden stands in position two and verschieben goes to the end in the future; das Treffen is accusative after the verb.
Kannst du den Schrank ein StĂĽck verschieben?
Can you move the cupboard a little?
der Schrank means the cupboard and ein StĂĽck means a little distance. Den Schrank is accusative because it is the object being moved; after the modal kannst, the infinitive verschieben goes to the end.
Sie verschob den Stuhl näher ans Fenster.
She moved the chair closer to the window.
der Stuhl means the chair, näher means closer, and das Fenster means the window. Den Stuhl is accusative after verschieben, while ans Fenster expresses the destination and verschob stands in position two.
verspäten — to be late, to be delayed ​
This verb is normally reflexive: sich verspäten. It describes a person, vehicle or event that is late; the perfect uses haben, not sein, despite the connection with travel.
Der Zug verspätet sich heute.
The train is delayed today.
der Zug is the train and heute means today. Sich is the accusative reflexive pronoun referring back to der Zug; the finite verb verspätet is in position two, while sich remains after it.
Der Zug hat sich um zwanzig Minuten verspätet.
The train was delayed by twenty minutes.
um zwanzig Minuten means by twenty minutes. The reflexive pronoun is sich, and hat is the auxiliary in position two while the Partizip II verspätet goes to the end; do not use sein with this verb.
Der Bus verspätete sich wegen des Verkehrs.
The bus was late because of the traffic.
der Bus is the bus, wegen means because of, and der Verkehr is the traffic. Sich is accusative and refers to der Bus; verspätete is the regular Präteritum form in position two.
Verspäte dich heute bitte nicht!
Please do not be late today!
heute means today, bitte means please, and nicht means not. With the singular du imperative, the reflexive pronoun is dich, not sich; the command form verspäte comes first.
Wenn ich mich verspätete, würde ich anrufen.
If I were late, I would call.
wenn means if, anrufen means call, and würde marks a conditional meaning. In the wenn clause, verspätete stands at the end; mich is the first-person accusative reflexive pronoun, while würde is in position two in the main clause.
Der Flug wird sich wahrscheinlich verspäten.
The flight will probably be delayed.
der Flug is the flight and wahrscheinlich means probably. Sich is the accusative reflexive pronoun; wird is in position two and the infinitive verspäten goes to the end of the future clause.
verspätet — late, delayed ​
Verspätet is the adjective related to sich verspäten and is common for trains, flights, deliveries and people. Before a noun it takes an adjective ending, but after sein it stays unchanged.
Der Zug ist verspätet.
The train is delayed.
der Zug is the train. Verspätet is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; ist is the finite verb in position two.
Der verspätete Zug kommt endlich an.
The delayed train is finally arriving.
der Zug is the train and endlich means finally. Verspätete stands before the masculine nominative noun Zug, so it takes -e after the definite article der; kommt ... an is the separable verb ankommen.
Der nächste Zug ist noch verspäteter als dieser.
The next train is even more delayed than this one.
der nächste Zug means the next train, noch means even or still, and dieser means this one. Verspäteter is predicative after ist, so it has no ending; als introduces the second part of a comparison.
Dieser Flug kam am verspätetsten an.
This flight arrived the most late.
dieser Flug means this flight and kam ... an means arrived. Am verspätetsten is the predicative superlative, while the separable verb ankommen splits into kam in position two and an at the end.
die Verspätung — delay, lateness; lateness, being late ​
The noun die Verspätung is used for something or someone arriving later than planned. With transport, Verspätung haben means to be delayed; the opposite is die Pünktlichkeit.
Die Verspätung des Zuges beträgt zehn Minuten.
The train is ten minutes late.
der Zug is the train, and beträgt means amounts to. zehn Minuten means ten minutes. Die Verspätung is nominative because it is the subject; des Zuges is genitive and means of the train, while the finite verb beträgt is in position two.
Ich hasse diese Verspätung.
I hate this delay.
ich means I, hasse means hate, and diese means this. Diese Verspätung is accusative because hassen takes an accusative object; the finite verb hasse stands in position two.
Wegen der Verspätung warten wir noch am Bahnhof.
Because of the delay, we are still waiting at the station.
wegen means because of, warten means wait, noch means still, and der Bahnhof is the station. In everyday German, wegen is commonly used with the genitive, so der Verspätung is genitive here, not dative; the finite verb warten is in position two.
Die Ursache der Verspätung ist ein technisches Problem.
The cause of the delay is a technical problem.
die Ursache is the cause, technisch means technical, and das Problem is the problem. Der Verspätung is genitive because it specifies the cause; the verb ist stands in position two.
Wegen der Verspätungen kommen viele Gäste später.
Because of the delays, many guests are arriving later.
viele Gäste means many guests, and später means later. Wegen commonly takes the genitive, so der Verspätungen is the genitive plural; the finite verb kommen is in position two.
Entschuldigung für meine Verspätung!
Sorry for being late!
Entschuldigung means apology or sorry, and meine means my. Für always takes the accusative, so meine Verspätung is accusative; this short expression has no finite verb.
Sie kam wegen einer Verspätung zu spät zur Arbeit.
She arrived at work late because she was delayed.
sie kam means she arrived, zu spät means too late, and die Arbeit is work. Wegen commonly takes the genitive, so einer Verspätung is genitive; the finite verb kam is in position two.
vor — in front of; before; before; ago; because of; from ​
With a two-way preposition, vor takes the accusative for movement towards a place and the dative for a fixed location. Do not choose the case from the English word “in” or “before”; choose it from the meaning of the sentence.
Die Kinder laufen vor das Haus.
The children run to the front of the house.
die Kinder means the children, and das Haus means the house. vor takes the accusative das Haus here because the children move towards a destination; the finite verb laufen is in position two.
Die Kinder spielen vor dem Haus.
The children are playing in front of the house.
spielen means to play, and dem Haus means the house in the dative. vor takes the dative dem Haus because this sentence describes a fixed location, not movement towards it.
Vor dem Essen wasche ich mir die Hände.
I wash my hands before the meal.
dem Essen means the meal, and wasche means wash; die Hände are the hands. For a time before an event, vor takes the dative dem Essen, and the finite verb wasche comes in position two after the initial phrase.
Sie ist vor drei Jahren nach Berlin gezogen.
She moved to Berlin three years ago.
drei Jahren means three years, nach Berlin means to Berlin, and gezogen means moved. A period of time after vor is dative, shown by plural Jahren; the perfect verb ist gezogen has the participle at the end.
Das Kind zittert vor Angst.
The child is trembling with fear.
das Kind means the child, and zittert means is trembling; Angst means fear. vor Angst is a fixed cause expression with the dative, although the feminine noun has no visible dative ending.
Er kann vor Freude kaum sprechen.
He can hardly speak for joy.
Freude means joy, kaum means hardly, and sprechen means to speak. The phrase vor Freude uses the dative to show the cause, while the modal verb kann is in position two and the infinitive sprechen goes to the end.
vorhin — a short while ago, earlier ​
Vorhin refers to a time not long ago, usually earlier on the same day or earlier in the conversation. It is different from vorher, which means beforehand in relation to another event.
Ich habe dich vorhin angerufen.
I called you a little while ago.
dich means you, and angerufen means called. Vorhin is a time adverb and does not change form; habe stands in position two and the Partizip II angerufen goes to the end.
Wir waren vorhin noch im Supermarkt.
We were still at the supermarket a little while ago.
wir means we, noch means still, and der Supermarkt is the supermarket. Vorhin can appear in the middle of the clause without an ending; waren is the past form of sein, and im Supermarkt is a dative location phrase.
vorig — previous, last ​
Vorig normally appears before a noun, as in vorige Woche or voriges Jahr, and it is not normally compared. Do not confuse it with vorherig, which is more formal and also means previous.
Die vorige Woche war sehr stressig.
Last week was very stressful.
die Woche is the week and stressig means stressful. Vorige is attributive and takes the feminine nominative ending -e after die; the finite verb war is in position two.
Die Woche ist die vorige.
The week is the previous one.
die Woche is the week, and die vorige means the previous one, with the noun understood. After the linking verb ist, the adjective is predicative and has no ending; die Woche is nominative.
Der vorigere Termin war noch nicht endgĂĽltig.
The earlier of the two previous appointments was not yet final.
der Termin is the appointment and noch nicht endgĂĽltig means not yet final. Vorigere is a rare comparative form meaning more previous; it is attributive here and takes the masculine nominative ending -e after der.
Von den drei Terminen liegt dieser zeitlich am vorigsten.
Of the three appointments, this one is furthest back in time.
von den drei Terminen means of the three appointments, and zeitlich means in terms of time. Am vorigsten is the uncommon superlative used predicatively; in normal everyday German, am weitesten zurĂĽckliegend is usually preferred.
das Vorjahr — previous year ​
Das Vorjahr is used for the year immediately before the one being discussed, especially in statistics, business and reports. The common time phrase im Vorjahr uses the dative after in.
Das Vorjahr war wirtschaftlich schwierig.
The previous year was economically difficult.
wirtschaftlich means economic or economically, and schwierig means difficult. Das Vorjahr is the nominative subject; the finite verb war stands in position two.
Wir vergleichen das Vorjahr mit diesem Jahr.
We are comparing the previous year with this year.
wir vergleichen means we compare, and dieses Jahr means this year. Das Vorjahr is accusative because vergleichen takes a direct object, while mit always takes the dative.
Im Vorjahr haben die Preise stark gestiegen.
In the previous year, prices rose sharply.
im Vorjahr means in the previous year, and die Preise are prices; stark means sharply or strongly. Im is in dem and takes the dative for a fixed time period, while haben and gestiegen form the perfect.
Die Ergebnisse des Vorjahres stehen im Bericht.
The results from the previous year are in the report.
die Ergebnisse are the results, and der Bericht is the report. Des Vorjahres is genitive because it identifies whose results they are; the noun Ergebnisse is the nominative subject and stehen is in position two.
Die Vorjahre waren deutlich besser.
The previous years were considerably better.
deutlich means considerably or clearly, and besser means better. Vorjahre is the plural subject, so the verb is waren; besser is the comparative of gut.
vormittags — in the morning, in the mornings ​
Vormittags is an adverb meaning in the morning or in the mornings, often for a regular schedule. It is different from am Vormittag, which refers to one particular morning period.
Vormittags arbeite ich im BĂĽro.
I work in the office in the mornings.
arbeiten means to work and im BĂĽro means in the office. Vormittags is a time adverb at the start, so the finite verb arbeite comes in position two before ich.
Das Museum ist vormittags geöffnet.
The museum is open in the mornings.
das Museum means the museum and geöffnet means open. Vormittags gives the time, while geöffnet is an adjective after ist; the verb ist remains in position two.
die Weile — while, period of time ​
The most common everyday phrase is eine Weile, meaning for a while. The plural Weilen exists but is uncommon; do not use it when you simply mean “a while.”
Die Weile vergeht schnell.
The time passes quickly.
vergeht means passes, and schnell means quickly. Die Weile is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb vergeht is in position two.
Ich genieĂźe die Weile im Garten.
I enjoy the time in the garden.
genieĂźen means to enjoy, and im Garten means in the garden. Die Weile is accusative because genieĂźen takes a direct object; with a feminine noun, the article looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Nach der Weile gehen wir weiter.
After a while, we continue.
nach means after, and weitergehen means to continue or go on. The phrase nach der Weile uses the dative because nach governs the dative; the finite verb gehen is in position two.
Die Länge der Weile überraschte mich.
The length of the period surprised me.
die Länge means the length, and überraschte means surprised. Der Weile is genitive and describes which length; the accusative pronoun mich is the person affected by überraschen.
Die stillen Weilen am See waren besonders schön.
The quiet periods by the lake were especially beautiful.
still means quiet, der See is the lake, and besonders schön means especially beautiful. Weilen is a rare plural of die Weile; the plural subject takes the finite verb waren.
der Werktag — working day ​
Der Werktag normally means a day on which people work, especially Monday to Saturday. In everyday speech, Arbeitstag can also mean a person's individual working day.
Am Werktag stehe ich frĂĽh auf.
On a working day, I get up early.
frĂĽh means early, and aufstehen means to get up. Am Werktag is dative because an means a time when something happens here; the separable verb aufstehen has its finite part in position two and its prefix at the end.
Ich arbeite jeden Werktag.
I work every working day.
jeden means every, and arbeiten means to work. Jeden Werktag is an accusative time expression; the finite verb arbeite stands in position two.
An Werktagen fährt der Bus nur selten.
On working days, the bus runs only rarely.
der Bus is the bus, and selten means rarely. An Werktagen is dative plural because an expresses a time here; fährt is in position two, while nur means only.
Die Länge des Werktags ist gesetzlich geregelt.
The length of the working day is regulated by law.
die Länge means the length, and gesetzlich geregelt means regulated by law. Des Werktags is genitive because it identifies the working day whose length is meant; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Die Werktage sind oft anstrengend.
Working days are often tiring.
oft means often, and anstrengend means tiring. Werktage is plural nominative because it is the subject; the plural article is die, and sind stands in position two.
wöchentlich — weekly ​
Wöchentlich is both an adjective and an adverb. As an adjective before a noun it takes an ending, as in wöchentliche Besprechung; after sein it stays unchanged.
Der Termin ist wöchentlich.
The appointment is weekly.
der Termin means the appointment, and ist means is. Wöchentlich is predicative after sein, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir haben einen wöchentlichen Termin.
We have a weekly appointment.
einen Termin means an appointment, and haben means to have. Wöchentlichen stands before the noun and has an accusative masculine ending after einen because haben takes an accusative object.
Ein wöchentlicher Termin ist praktischer als tägliche Treffen.
A weekly appointment is more practical than daily meetings.
praktischer means more practical, and tägliche Treffen means daily meetings. Wöchentlicher is nominative masculine after ein because it describes the subject; als introduces the thing used for comparison.
Das ist der wöchentlichste Bericht im ganzen Team.
That is the most weekly report in the whole team.
der Bericht means the report, and im ganzen Team means in the whole team. Wöchentlichste is an attributive superlative before a masculine noun and takes -e after der; the phrase is unusual and normally means the report appearing most regularly each week.
wöchentlich — weekly, once a week ​
As an adverb, wöchentlich describes how often something happens and never takes an adjective ending. Do not confuse it with the attributive adjective wöchentliche, as in die wöchentliche Sitzung.
Wir treffen uns wöchentlich.
We meet once a week.
sich treffen means to meet, and uns means each other here. Wöchentlich is an adverb and therefore has no adjective ending; the finite verb treffen is in position two.
Die Zeitschrift erscheint wöchentlich.
The magazine is published weekly.
die Zeitschrift means the magazine, and erscheinen means to be published or to appear. Wöchentlich modifies the verb and stays unchanged; erscheint is in position two because this is a main clause.
zunächst — first, initially; for the time being; at first, initially ​
Zunächst can describe the first step in a sequence or a temporary situation. It is often similar to erst einmal, first of all or for now, and it does not mean finally.
Zunächst trinken wir einen Kaffee.
First of all, we will have a coffee.
trinken means drink, and einen Kaffee means a coffee. Zunächst occupies the first position, so the finite verb trinken comes directly after it in position two; einen Kaffee is accusative as the object.
Wir bleiben zunächst zu Hause.
We will stay at home for the time being.
bleiben means stay, and zu Hause means at home. Zunächst is an adverb in the middle field after the finite verb bleiben; it does not force a special case or change the verb form.
Die Aufgabe war zunächst unklar.
The task was unclear at first.
die Aufgabe means the task, and unklar means unclear. Zunächst modifies the adjective unklar in time; war is the preterite of sein and stays in position two.
Zunächst wusste niemand, was passiert war.
At first, nobody knew what had happened.
wusste means knew, niemand means nobody, and was passiert war means what had happened. Zunächst is in first position, so wusste is in position two; in the subordinate clause introduced by was, the finite verb war goes to the end.
zurzeit — currently; at present ​
zurzeit refers to the present period and is often interchangeable with jetzt in everyday speech. It is written as one word, not as zur Zeit in this usual meaning.
Ich arbeite zurzeit von zu Hause.
I am currently working from home.
arbeite means work, von zu Hause means from home, and zu Hause means at home. zurzeit is a time adverb and can stand in the middle of the clause; the finite verb arbeite remains in position two.
Zurzeit ist das Museum geschlossen.
The museum is currently closed.
das Museum is the museum and geschlossen means closed. When zurzeit comes first, it occupies the first position, so the finite verb ist comes immediately after it in position two; the word is written as one word.