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Vocab: Time — B1 (2)
Time vocabulary at B1 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
ursprünglich — original, initial; originally; originally, at first
Ursprünglich describes something belonging to the first form or source; as an adverb it can mean originally. It is not always the opposite of falsch: die ursprüngliche Version means the first or earlier version, even if later versions are also correct.
Die Idee ist ursprünglich.
The idea is original.
Idee means idea, and ist means is. Ursprünglich is predicative, so it has no adjective ending after ist; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Das ist die ursprüngliche Idee.
That is the original idea.
das means that and Idee means idea. Ursprüngliche comes before the feminine noun Idee and takes -e after the definite article die; the phrase is the nominative complement after ist.
Diese Erklärung ist ursprünglicher als die andere.
This explanation is more original than the other one.
Erklärung means explanation and andere means other one. Ursprünglicher is the comparative and is predicative, so it has no adjective ending; comparisons of unequal things use als.
Diese Version ist am ursprünglichsten.
This version is the most original.
Version means version. Am ursprünglichsten is the predicative superlative with am; before a noun, learners must use an ending form such as die ursprünglichste Version.
Ursprünglich wollte ich zu Hause bleiben.
Originally, I wanted to stay at home.
wollte means wanted to and zu Hause bleiben means stay at home. Ursprünglich is an adverb in first position, so the finite verb wollte must still come in position two; the subject ich follows it.
Sie kommt ursprünglich aus Polen.
She is originally from Poland.
kommt aus Polen means comes from Poland, and Polen is Poland. Ursprünglich modifies the whole statement and is placed after the finite verb kommt; aus takes the dative, although the country name has no visible article here.
verbringen — to spend time; to pass time
Verbringen is used for spending time, a holiday, or another period, not for spending money; ausgeben is used for money. It takes an accusative time or activity object, and the perfect is formed with haben: Zeit verbringen – Zeit verbracht haben.
Ich verbringe den Abend mit meiner Familie.
I spend the evening with my family.
den Abend means the evening, and mit meiner Familie means with my family. Den Abend is accusative because it is the time object of verbringen; mit always takes the dative, and the finite verb verbringe is in position two.
Wir haben den Sommer in Italien verbracht.
We spent the summer in Italy.
den Sommer means the summer, and in Italien means in Italy. Verbracht goes to the end as the Partizip II, while haben is the auxiliary; den Sommer is accusative, but in Italien is dative because it describes location.
Sie verbrachte eine Woche bei ihrer Tante.
She spent a week at her aunt's house.
eine Woche means one week, and bei ihrer Tante means at her aunt's house. Eine Woche is accusative as the time object, while bei requires the dative; verbrachte is the mixed-verb preterite.
Verbring mehr Zeit mit deinen Kindern!
Spend more time with your children!
mehr Zeit means more time, and mit deinen Kindern means with your children. Verbring is the du imperative without -st; Zeit is accusative and mit forces the dative.
Ich würde den Urlaub gern am Meer verbringen.
I would like to spend the holiday by the sea.
den Urlaub means the holiday, gern means gladly or would like to, and am Meer means by the sea. Würde carries the conditional meaning, while the infinitive verbringen goes to the end; den Urlaub is accusative.
Nächstes Jahr wird er mehr Zeit in Berlin verbringen.
Next year he will spend more time in Berlin.
Nächstes Jahr means next year, and mehr Zeit in Berlin means more time in Berlin. Wird is the future auxiliary in position two, while verbringen goes to the end; mehr Zeit is accusative and in Berlin describes location.
Er verbringt den Nachmittag allein.
He spends the afternoon alone.
den Nachmittag means the afternoon, and allein means alone. Den Nachmittag is accusative because it is the time object, and the finite verb verbringt stands in position two.
Wir haben einen ruhigen Abend zu Hause verbracht.
We spent a quiet evening at home.
einen ruhigen Abend means a quiet evening, and zu Hause means at home. Einen ruhigen Abend is accusative, while verbracht goes to the end of the perfect clause after the auxiliary haben.
verkürzen — to shorten, reduce
verkürzen is a regular transitive verb and takes haben in the perfect. It can refer to reducing length, duration, or a text.
Die Firma verkürzt die Arbeitszeit.
The company is shortening the working hours.
die Firma means the company, and die Arbeitszeit means the working hours. Die Arbeitszeit is accusative because verkürzen takes a direct object; the finite verb verkürzt is in position two.
Die Firma hat die Arbeitszeit verkürzt.
The company has shortened the working hours.
die Firma means the company, and die Arbeitszeit means the working hours. The perfect uses hat plus verkürzt; the auxiliary is in position two and the Partizip II goes to the end.
Die Firma verkürzte die Arbeitszeit im Sommer.
The company shortened the working hours in summer.
im Sommer means in summer. Die Arbeitszeit is accusative because it is the direct object, and the regular past form verkürzte stands in position two.
Verkürz bitte den Text.
Please shorten the text.
bitte means please, and der Text means the text. Verkürz is the singular du imperative without a pronoun; den Text is accusative because it is the object.
Ich verkürzte die Sitzung, wenn ich mehr Zeit gehabt hätte.
I would shorten the meeting if I had had more time.
die Sitzung means the meeting, and mehr Zeit means more time. This sentence uses the past conditional with hätte verkürzt; the conditional clause puts its finite verb hätte at the end.
Wir werden den Bericht verkürzen.
We will shorten the report.
der Bericht means the report. Future tense uses werden in position two and the infinitive verkürzen at the end; the report is accusative because it is the direct object.
verlängern — to extend; to renew
Verlängern takes an accusative object. It is used both for making a physical thing longer and for renewing a period, contract, ticket, or membership.
Ich verlängere den Vertrag heute.
I am renewing the contract today.
heute means today and der Vertrag means the contract. Den Vertrag is accusative because verlängern takes a direct object, and the finite verb verlängere stands in position two.
Wir haben die Mitgliedschaft verlängert.
We extended the membership.
die Mitgliedschaft means the membership. The perfect uses haben plus the Partizip II verlängert; the object die Mitgliedschaft is accusative, and the participle goes to the end.
Sie verlängerte die Frist um eine Woche.
She extended the deadline by one week.
die Frist means the deadline, and um eine Woche means by one week. Verlängerte is the regular simple-past form; die Frist is accusative because it is the direct object.
Verlängere bitte meinen Vertrag!
Please extend my contract!
bitte means please, and mein Vertrag means my contract. Verlängere is the informal singular imperative; the object meinen Vertrag is accusative, and the subject du is omitted.
Ich würde die Frist gern verlängern.
I would gladly extend the deadline.
gern means gladly or would like to, and die Frist means the deadline. Würde expresses a hypothetical idea, while the infinitive verlängern goes at the end; the object is accusative.
Der Arzt wird die Behandlung verlängern.
The doctor will extend the treatment.
der Arzt means the doctor and die Behandlung means the treatment. In the future, wird is in position two and the infinitive verlängern goes to the end; die Behandlung is accusative.
versäumen — to miss, to fail to keep; to neglect; to fail to do, to neglect doing
versäumen is more formal than verpassen and is often used for appointments, deadlines, opportunities, or duties. It takes an accusative object and is not normally used for simply missing a person.
Er versäumt den Termin.
He is missing the appointment.
er means he, and der Termin is the appointment or scheduled date. Den Termin is accusative because versäumen takes a direct object, and the finite verb versäumt stands in position two.
Sie hat die Frist versäumt.
She missed the deadline.
sie means she, and die Frist is the deadline or time limit. The perfect uses hat plus versäumt, with the Partizip II at the end; die Frist is accusative as the direct object.
Der Bewerber versäumte die wichtige Gelegenheit.
The applicant missed the important opportunity.
der Bewerber is the applicant, wichtig means important, and die Gelegenheit is the opportunity. Die wichtige Gelegenheit is accusative, and the regular Präteritum versäumte stands in position two.
Versäume diese Chance nicht!
Do not miss this chance!
diese Chance means this chance, and nicht means not. The imperative omits du, diese Chance is accusative as the object, and nicht changes the command into a warning not to miss it.
Ich würde diese Gelegenheit nicht versäumen.
I would not miss this opportunity.
diese Gelegenheit means this opportunity, and nicht means not. Würde marks the Konjunktiv II and the infinitive versäumen goes to the end; diese Gelegenheit is accusative.
Du wirst den letzten Zug versäumen.
You will miss the last train.
der letzte Zug is the last train, and werden means will here. Future tense places wirst in position two and the infinitive versäumen at the end; den letzten Zug is accusative.
Er versäumt es, seine Eltern anzurufen.
He fails to call his parents.
seine Eltern means his parents, and anzurufen means to call; the prefix an- is attached to the infinitive with zu. The pronoun es is the accusative object of versäumt, while seine Eltern is accusative after anrufen.
Bitte versäumen Sie nicht, das Formular abzugeben.
Please do not fail to submit the form.
bitte means please, Sie is the formal you, das Formular is the form, and abzugeben means to submit or hand in. The polite command uses the Sie form, and the infinitive abzugeben places the separable prefix ab- before zu.
verzögern — to delay, to hold up; to be delayed, to be postponed
Verzögern can be transitive, meaning to delay something, or reflexive, sich verzögern, meaning to be delayed. In the transitive use it takes an accusative object and forms the perfect with haben.
Der starke Regen verzögert den Start.
The heavy rain is delaying the start.
starker Regen means heavy rain, and der Start means the start. Verzögert is in position two; den Start is accusative because it is the direct object being delayed.
Der Unfall hat den Zug um eine Stunde verzögert.
The accident delayed the train by one hour.
der Unfall means the accident, der Zug means the train, and um eine Stunde means by one hour. The perfect uses hat plus verzögert at the end; den Zug is accusative, while um eine Stunde gives the amount of the delay.
Die Reparatur verzögerte den Flug.
The repair delayed the flight.
die Reparatur means the repair, and der Flug means the flight. The weak past form verzögerte stands in position two, and den Flug is accusative as the direct object.
Verzögere die Entscheidung nicht.
Do not delay the decision.
die Entscheidung means the decision, and nicht means not. The imperative Verzögere begins the sentence, and die Entscheidung is accusative; nicht comes after the object here.
Ich würde den Termin nicht verzögern.
I would not delay the appointment.
der Termin means the appointment, and nicht means not. The conditional uses würde with the infinitive verzögern at the end; den Termin is accusative because it is the object.
Das neue Gesetz wird die Bauarbeiten verzögern.
The new law will delay the construction work.
das neue Gesetz means the new law, and die Bauarbeiten means the construction work. The future uses wird in position two and places verzögern at the end; die Bauarbeiten is accusative.
Der Zug verzögert sich wegen eines technischen Problems.
The train is delayed because of a technical problem.
der Zug means the train, wegen means because of, and ein technisches Problem means a technical problem. The reflexive form verzögert sich means is delayed; wegen introduces the cause, and the finite verb verzögert remains in position two.
Unsere Reise hat sich um zwei Tage verzögert.
Our journey was delayed by two days.
unsere Reise means our journey, and um zwei Tage means by two days. The reflexive perfect uses hat sich ... verzögert with haben, and the Partizip II verzögert goes to the end; sich refers back to unsere Reise.
der Vorabend — eve; evening before
Vorabend normally refers to the evening before an important event, such as an exam, wedding, or holiday. It is not usually used for every ordinary previous evening; for that meaning, am Abend vorher is more natural.
Der Vorabend der Hochzeit war sehr ruhig.
The evening before the wedding was very quiet.
die Hochzeit means the wedding, and ruhig means quiet. Der Vorabend is the nominative subject, while der Hochzeit is genitive and specifies which evening; the finite verb war is in position two.
Wir planen am Vorabend die letzten Details.
We plan the final details on the evening before.
planen means plan, die letzten Details means the final details, and am means on the. am Vorabend is a dative time expression, while die letzten Details is the accusative object of planen; the finite verb planen is in position two.
Am Vorabend schicken wir den Gästen eine Nachricht.
On the evening before, we send the guests a message.
schicken means send, den Gästen means to the guests, and eine Nachricht means a message. Am Vorabend is dative after an in the fixed time expression, den Gästen is also dative as the recipients, and eine Nachricht is accusative.
Die Farbe des Vorabends passt zur Dekoration.
The colour of the evening before matches the decoration.
die Farbe means the colour, passt means matches, and die Dekoration means the decoration. des Vorabends is genitive because it specifies whose or which colour, while zur Dekoration is dative after zu; the finite verb passt is in position two.
Die Vorabende vor großen Festen sind oft stressig.
The evenings before big celebrations are often stressful.
großen Feste means big celebrations, oft means often, and stressig means stressful. Die Vorabende is a plural nominative subject, and vor großen Festen is a dative phrase because vor describes a time before an event.
vorläufig — provisional, temporary, preliminary
Vorläufig describes something that is not yet final, such as eine vorläufige Entscheidung. Its opposite is endgültig, meaning final; the adjective can be used both before a noun and after sein.
Die Entscheidung ist vorläufig.
The decision is provisional.
die Entscheidung means the decision, and ist means is. Vorläufig is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb is in position two.
Wir haben eine vorläufige Lösung gefunden.
We have found a provisional solution.
eine Lösung means a solution, and gefunden means found. Vorläufige describes the feminine accusative object eine Lösung, so it takes the ending -e; the perfect participle gefunden goes to the end.
Diese Regelung ist vorläufiger als die alte.
This arrangement is more provisional than the old one.
diese Regelung means this arrangement, als means than, and die alte means the old one. The adjective is predicative after ist, so the comparative has no ending; als introduces the thing used for comparison.
Das ist die am vorläufigsten geplante Lösung.
That is the most provisional solution that has been planned.
geplante Lösung means planned solution. The superlative phrase am vorläufigsten is used predicatively inside the description, while die ... Lösung is the nominative complement after ist; the form after am ends in -sten.
vorläufig — for now, provisionally
Vorläufig means that something applies for now but may change later. It is not the same as endgültig, which means final.
Vorläufig bleiben wir hier.
For now, we are staying here.
bleiben means to stay, and hier means here. Vorläufig is an adverb at the start of the sentence; the finite verb bleiben stays in position two, before wir.
Die Entscheidung ist vorläufig.
The decision is provisional.
die Entscheidung means the decision. Vorläufig describes the current status after ist; it does not change its form because adverbs are not given adjective endings.
wiederholt — repeated, recurring
wiederholt is normally used to describe something happening more than once, and its comparative and superlative are uncommon. Before a noun it takes an adjective ending, but after sein it has no ending.
Das sind wiederholte Fehler.
Those are repeated mistakes.
Fehler means mistakes, and das sind means those are. wiederholte has the weak plural ending -e after das; the adjective stands before the plural noun in the nominative.
Die Fehler sind wiederholt.
The mistakes are repeated.
die Fehler means the mistakes. wiederholt is predicative after sind, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb sind is in position two.
Dieser Fehler ist wiederholter als der erste.
This mistake is more repeated than the first one.
dieser Fehler means this mistake, and der erste means the first one. The comparative wiederholter is predicative after ist, so it has no ending; als introduces the thing used for comparison.
Dieser Fehler wurde am wiederholtesten dokumentiert.
This mistake was documented most repeatedly.
wurde dokumentiert means was documented, and dieser Fehler means this mistake. am wiederholtesten is the predicative or adverbial superlative and has no adjective ending; in the passive, wurde is in position two and dokumentiert goes to the end.
wiederholt — repeatedly, several times
As an adverb, wiederholt means repeatedly or several times. Do not mistake this use for the adjective wiederholt, which describes a noun or follows sein.
Er hat wiederholt nach dem Termin gefragt.
He asked about the appointment several times.
nach dem Termin fragen means to ask about the appointment, and mehrmals is expressed here by wiederholt. The preposition nach takes the dative, so dem Termin is dative; in the perfect, hat is in position two and gefragt is at the end.
Die Maschine wurde wiederholt geprüft.
The machine was checked repeatedly.
die Maschine means the machine, geprüft means checked, and wurde means was. This is a passive sentence: wurde is in position two and geprüft goes to the end, while wiederholt describes how often the checking happened.
das Zeitalter — era, age; era of change, age
The plural is die Zeitalter, with no ending; the genitive singular is des Zeitalters. It often appears in the phrase das Zeitalter der ..., where the following noun phrase is genitive.
Das Zeitalter der Raumfahrt begann im 20. Jahrhundert.
The age of space travel began in the twentieth century.
die Raumfahrt means space travel, and begann means began. Das Zeitalter is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb begann is in position two.
Viele Menschen bewundern das Zeitalter der großen Entdeckungen.
Many people admire the age of the great discoveries.
viele Menschen means many people, bewundern means admire, and die großen Entdeckungen means the great discoveries. Das Zeitalter is accusative because bewundern takes a direct object; the phrase der großen Entdeckungen is a genitive attribute.
In diesem Zeitalter verändern sich Technik und Gesellschaft schnell.
In this age, technology and society are changing quickly.
diesem means this, verändern sich means change, and schnell means quickly. In diesem Zeitalter is dative because in describes a fixed time or location here, not movement; verändern is in position two.
Die Möglichkeiten dieses Zeitalters sind beeindruckend.
The possibilities of this age are impressive.
die Möglichkeiten means the possibilities, and beeindruckend means impressive. Dieses Zeitalters is genitive because it shows whose possibilities they are; the genitive ending -s appears on the noun.
Frühere Zeitalter hatten andere Werte und Regeln.
Earlier ages had different values and rules.
frühere means earlier, hatten means had, and andere Werte und Regeln means different values and rules. Zeitalter has the same form in the singular and plural, so the word frühere and the plural verb hatten show that it is plural.
Das Internet hat ein neues Zeitalter eingeleitet.
The internet has ushered in a new era.
das Internet means the internet, neu means new, and eingeleitet means ushered in or introduced. Ein neues Zeitalter is accusative because einleiten takes a direct object; the participle eingeleitet goes to the end with hat.
Wir leben in einem Zeitalter ständiger Veränderungen.
We live in an age of constant change.
wir leben means we live, ständig means constant, and Veränderungen means changes. In einem Zeitalter is dative because in refers to a situation or period here; ständiger Veränderungen is a genitive phrase describing the age.
zeitlich — temporal, time-related; chronological, concerning timing
Zeitlich describes a connection with time or the timing of events. It is not the usual word for “punctual” or “soon”; use pünktlich or zeitnah for those meanings.
Der Unterschied ist zeitlich, nicht räumlich.
The difference is temporal, not spatial.
der Unterschied means the difference, nicht means not, and räumlich means spatial. Zeitlich is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Bitte beachten Sie die zeitliche Reihenfolge.
Please observe the chronological order.
bitte beachten Sie means please observe, and die Reihenfolge means the order or sequence. Zeitliche comes before the feminine noun Reihenfolge and takes -e after the definite article die; the whole noun phrase is accusative because beachten takes a direct object.
Diese Erklärung ist zeitlicher als die vorige.
This explanation is more concerned with timing than the previous one.
diese Erklärung means this explanation, vorige means previous, and als means than. The comparative zeitlicher is used predicatively after ist, so it has no adjective ending; comparisons normally use als, not wie.
Diese Darstellung ist am zeitlichsten geprägt.
This presentation is the most strongly shaped by time.
diese Darstellung means this presentation, and geprägt means shaped or characterised. Am zeitlichsten is a predicative superlative with am and -sten; it is less common than a phrase such as am stärksten zeitlich geprägt.
Die zeitliche Abfolge der Ereignisse ist unklar.
The chronological sequence of events is unclear.
die Abfolge means the sequence, Ereignisse means events, and unklar means unclear. Zeitliche has the ending -e after die; der Ereignisse is genitive because it specifies which sequence is meant.
Wir müssen den zeitlichen Ablauf genau planen.
We have to plan the schedule precisely.
wir müssen means we have to, der Ablauf means the schedule or course of events, genau means precisely, and planen means plan. Den zeitlichen Ablauf is accusative because planen takes a direct object; the modal verb müssen sends planen to the end.
das Zeitmanagement — time management
Zeitmanagement is normally a mass noun and has no plural. Its genitive is des Zeitmanagements, with -s because it is a loanword ending in -ment.
Gutes Zeitmanagement hilft im Studium.
Good time management helps with university studies.
gut means good, hilft means helps, and das Studium means university studies. Gutes Zeitmanagement is nominative because it is the subject; im Studium is dative because in refers to a situation or area here.
Viele Kurse vermitteln Zeitmanagement für den Berufsalltag.
Many courses teach time management for everyday working life.
viele Kurse means many courses, vermitteln means teach or convey, and der Berufsalltag means everyday working life. Zeitmanagement is accusative because vermitteln takes a direct object; für den Berufsalltag is also accusative because für always takes the accusative.
Mit gutem Zeitmanagement erledigt man Aufgaben schneller.
With good time management, you complete tasks more quickly.
mit means with, erledigt means completes, Aufgaben means tasks, and schneller means more quickly. Mit gutem Zeitmanagement is dative because mit always governs the dative; the finite verb erledigt is in position two.
Die Vorteile des Zeitmanagements zeigen sich im Alltag.
The advantages of time management become clear in everyday life.
die Vorteile means the advantages, zeigen sich means become apparent, and der Alltag means everyday life. Des Zeitmanagements is genitive because it says whose advantages they are; the finite verb zeigen is in position two.
der Zeitmangel — lack of time, shortage of time
Zeitmangel is normally a mass noun and has no plural. It is often used with aus or wegen; aus Zeitmangel is a fixed phrase meaning “for lack of time”.
Zeitmangel ist oft ein Grund für Stress.
A lack of time is often a reason for stress.
oft means often, der Grund means the reason, and der Stress means stress. Zeitmangel is nominative because it is the subject; für Stress is accusative because für always takes the accusative.
Viele Menschen spüren den Zeitmangel im Alltag.
Many people feel the lack of time in everyday life.
viele Menschen means many people, spüren means feel, and der Alltag means everyday life. Den Zeitmangel is accusative because spüren takes a direct object; im Alltag is dative because in describes a situation here.
Wegen Zeitmangels verschieben wir den Termin.
Because of a lack of time, we are postponing the appointment.
wegen means because of, verschieben means postpone, and der Termin means the appointment. Zeitmangels is genitive, not dative, because wegen traditionally governs the genitive; den Termin is accusative because verschieben takes a direct object.
Die Folgen des Zeitmangels werden immer deutlicher.
The consequences of the lack of time are becoming increasingly clear.
die Folgen means the consequences, immer deutlicher means increasingly clear, and werden means become. Des Zeitmangels is genitive because it identifies the source of the consequences; the finite verb werden stands in position two.
der Zeitpunkt — point in time, moment
Unlike der Zeitraum, der Zeitpunkt means one specific moment, not a stretch of time.
Der Zeitpunkt für die Entscheidung ist noch nicht gekommen.
The time for the decision has not yet come.
die Entscheidung means the decision, and noch nicht gekommen means has not yet come. Der Zeitpunkt is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist is in position two, while gekommen stands at the end with sein.
Wir müssen den Zeitpunkt genau planen.
We have to plan the exact timing carefully.
genau means precisely or carefully, and planen means to plan. Den Zeitpunkt is accusative because planen takes a direct object; müssen is the finite modal verb in position two and planen goes to the end.
Zu dem Zeitpunkt war ich noch im Büro.
At that point, I was still in the office.
zu dem Zeitpunkt means at that point, and noch means still. The preposition zu forces the dative, so dem is used; the finite verb war is in position two.
Die Wahl des Zeitpunkts ist besonders wichtig.
The choice of the timing is particularly important.
die Wahl is the choice, and besonders wichtig means particularly important. Des Zeitpunkts is genitive because it identifies whose choice it is; the masculine noun has des and -s in the genitive.
Mehrere Zeitpunkte kommen für das Treffen infrage.
Several times are possible for the meeting.
mehrere means several, and das Treffen is the meeting. Zeitpunkte is plural and nominative because it is the subject; infrage kommen means to be possible, with kommen in position two and infrage at the end.
Der Arzt nennt den Zeitpunkt für die Untersuchung.
The doctor names the time for the examination.
der Arzt is the doctor, and die Untersuchung is the examination. Den Zeitpunkt is accusative because nennen takes a direct object; für introduces the accusative phrase für die Untersuchung.
der Zeitraum — period, period of time
Der Zeitraum describes a stretch of time, often with a stated duration or beginning and end. For one exact moment, use der Zeitpunkt.
Der Zeitraum von April bis Juni ist besonders busy.
The period from April to June is particularly busy.
von April bis Juni means from April to June, and busy means busy. Der Zeitraum is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Wir wählen den Zeitraum für die Reise aus.
We choose the period for the trip.
die Reise means the trip, and auswählen means to choose. Den Zeitraum is accusative because auswählen takes a direct object; the separable verb splits, with aus at the end.
In dem Zeitraum kann ich nicht verreisen.
I cannot travel during that period.
kann ich nicht verreisen means I cannot travel. In dem Zeitraum is dative because it describes a time location; kann is in position two and verreisen goes to the end.
Die Länge des Zeitraums hängt vom Wetter ab.
The length of the period depends on the weather.
die Länge means the length, and das Wetter means the weather. Des Zeitraums is genitive because it specifies the length of what; abhängen splits, with ab at the end.
Lange Zeiträume ohne Pause sind anstrengend.
Long periods without a break are tiring.
lange means long, ohne Pause means without a break, and anstrengend means tiring. Zeiträume is plural nominative because it is the subject; lange has the adjective ending -e after the zero article.
Der Kurs dauert über einen Zeitraum von sechs Wochen.
The course lasts for a period of six weeks.
der Kurs means the course, dauert means lasts, and sechs Wochen means six weeks. Einen Zeitraum is accusative because über expresses duration here; the finite verb dauert is in position two.
die Zeitverschwendung — waste of time
Zeitverschwendung is an abstract noun and is normally used in the singular. German often uses it where English says wasting time, for example in Zeitverschwendung vermeiden.
Die Zeitverschwendung ärgert mich.
The waste of time annoys me.
ärgert means annoys, and mich means me. Die Zeitverschwendung is nominative because it is the subject; mich is accusative because ärgern takes the person who feels annoyed as its object.
Das lange Warten ist eine Zeitverschwendung.
The long wait is a waste of time.
das lange Warten means the long wait. Eine Zeitverschwendung is accusative after sein in this sentence because it identifies the subject; it has the same form as nominative for a feminine noun.
Mit der Zeitverschwendung bin ich nicht einverstanden.
I do not agree with the waste of time.
mit means with, and einverstanden means in agreement. Der Zeitverschwendung is dative because mit always takes the dative; bin is in position two and nicht negates the phrase.
Die Folgen der Zeitverschwendung sind deutlich.
The consequences of wasting time are clear.
die Folgen means the consequences, and deutlich means clear. Der Zeitverschwendung is genitive because it explains what the consequences are connected with; the feminine genitive article is der.
Solche Zeitverschwendungen kosten viel Geld.
Such wastes of time cost a lot of money.
solche means such, and kosten means cost. Zeitverschwendungen is the plural subject; this countable plural is possible when several separate cases are meant, but the singular is much more common.
zeitweise — temporary, intermittent
Zeitweise means happening only during some periods, not continuously. It is usually used without comparison; do not confuse it with zeitnah, which means soon or close in time.
Die Straße ist zeitweise gesperrt.
The road is temporarily closed.
die Straße means the road, and gesperrt means closed or blocked. Zeitweise is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wegen zeitweiser Bauarbeiten ist der Eingang geschlossen.
Because of temporary construction work, the entrance is closed.
wegen means because of, Bauarbeiten means construction work, and der Eingang means the entrance. Zeitweiser stands before the feminine plural noun Bauarbeiten in the genitive phrase after wegen; the adjective ending shows the case and gender information.
Die Störungen sind heute zeitweiser als gestern.
The disruptions are more intermittent today than yesterday.
die Störungen means the disruptions, heute means today, and gestern means yesterday. Zeitweiser is a predicative comparative after sind; als introduces the thing used for comparison, and the adjective has no ending after the verb.
Im Winter tritt der Regen am zeitweisesten auf.
In winter, the rain occurs most intermittently.
im Winter means in winter, der Regen means the rain, and auftreten means occur or appear. Am zeitweisesten is an adverbial superlative; tritt is in position two and the separable prefix auf moves to the end.
zeitweise — temporarily, intermittently, sometimes
As an adverb, zeitweise describes an action or state that occurs only at certain times. It does not change form, even when the subject is plural or feminine.
Ich arbeite zeitweise von zu Hause.
I sometimes work from home.
arbeite means work, and von zu Hause means from home. Zeitweise is an adverb modifying arbeite; the finite verb stays in position two, while the adverb can also appear in another position for emphasis.
Der Aufzug funktioniert zeitweise nicht.
The lift does not work intermittently.
der Aufzug means the lift, and funktioniert means works or functions. Zeitweise modifies funktioniert, while nicht negates the verb; the finite verb is in position two.
zugleich — at the same time, simultaneously
Zugleich is a neutral adverb meaning at the same time or simultaneously. It is similar to gleichzeitig, but it is often shorter and more formal in written language.
Sie lacht und weint zugleich.
She is laughing and crying at the same time.
lachen means to laugh, weinen means to cry, and und means and. Zugleich is an adverb placed at the end to show that both actions happen at the same time; it does not change form.
Er kann nicht zwei Aufgaben zugleich erledigen.
He cannot do two tasks at once.
können means can, zwei Aufgaben means two tasks, nicht means not, and erledigen means to complete. Zugleich means at once; with the modal kann, the infinitive erledigen goes to the end, while the adverb can stand before it.
zukünftig — future, forthcoming
As an adjective, zukünftig means belonging to the future, as in zukünftige Generationen. It is different from the adverb zukünftig, which means “from now on” or “in future”.
Die zukünftige Generation wird andere Probleme haben.
The future generation will have different problems.
die Generation means the generation, wird ... haben means will have, and andere Probleme means different problems. The example uses the adjective attributively despite this matrix label: zukünftige has the feminine nominative ending -e after die; the finite verb wird stands in position two.
Wir sprechen über zukünftige Projekte.
We are talking about future projects.
sprechen über means talk about, and Projekte means projects. Zukünftige describes the plural noun Projekte and has no extra ending here; über takes the accusative with this non-local meaning.
Die zukünftigere Lösung wäre teurer.
The more future-oriented solution would be more expensive.
die Lösung means the solution, wäre means would be, and teurer means more expensive. Zukünftigere is an attributive comparative with the feminine nominative ending -e; wäre is Konjunktiv II for a hypothetical statement.
Das ist die am zukünftigsten gedachte Variante.
That is the variant conceived furthest into the future.
gedachte means conceived or designed, and die Variante means the variant. The superlative am zukünftigsten is used adverbially inside the participle phrase; before a noun, a form such as die zukünftigste Variante is more direct.
zukünftig — in future, from now on
As an adverb, zukünftig means “in future” or “from now on” and does not change its form. Do not add an adjective ending when it modifies a verb.
Zukünftig arbeiten wir von zu Hause.
From now on, we will work from home.
arbeiten means work, and von zu Hause means from home. Zukünftig is an adverb and does not take an adjective ending; because it occupies position one, the finite verb arbeiten comes directly after it in position two.
Die Regeln gelten zukünftig für alle.
In future, the rules will apply to everyone.
die Regeln means the rules, gelten means apply, and für alle means for everyone. Zukünftig modifies the verb gelten; für takes the accusative, although the phrase has the same form as the nominative plural here.
zuletzt — last, lastly; most recently
Zuletzt can refer to the final person or event in a sequence, or to the most recent time something happened. Do not confuse it with zuerst, which means first.
Wer zuletzt kommt, muss die Tür schließen.
Whoever comes last has to close the door.
wer means whoever, kommen means to come, and die Tür schließen means to close the door. Zuletzt is an adverb and can stand directly after the subject; muss is in position two in the main clause, while schließen goes to the end after the modal verb.
Ich habe ihn zuletzt im Mai gesehen.
I last saw him in May.
ihn means him, im Mai means in May, and gesehen means seen. Zuletzt means on the most recent occasion here; ihn is accusative because sehen takes a direct object, and gesehen stands at the end in the perfect.
zwischendurch — in between, from time to time
Zwischendurch often describes a short activity during a longer one, such as eating or taking a break while working. It does not change form and can usually move to different positions in the sentence.
Ich arbeite den ganzen Tag und esse zwischendurch einen Apfel.
I work all day and have an apple in between.
den ganzen Tag means “all day”, and einen Apfel means “an apple”. Zwischendurch is an adverb and can stand in the middle field; einen Apfel is accusative because essen takes a direct object.
Wir machen zwischendurch eine kurze Pause.
We take a short break in between.
machen means “make/take”, and eine kurze Pause means “a short break”. Zwischendurch gives the time of the action; eine kurze Pause is accusative because machen takes it as its object.