Adverbial Time Phrases - Prepositions

Question 1

Ab + dat/akk

Answer 1

Used in the meaning ‘from’ and is an alternative to ‘Von … an’

Eg ab neun Uhr (from Nine o clock)

Question 2

An + Dativ

Answer 2

Used with nouns denoting days/parts of the day

Am Montag/an Wochentagen

Question 3

Auf + accusative

Answer 3

Indicates a time from now, corresponding to ‘for’. It is less common than ‘für’

Eg sie fährt auf vier Monate in die Schweiz

Question 4

Bei

Answer 4

Used with nouns which do not themselves express time. So ‘the time when X took/was taking/will take place’

Bei seiner Geburt (at his birth)

Question 5

Bis

Answer 5

Indicates an end point in time and can correspond to ‘until’ or ‘by’. It is never followed by a definite article
Eg bis Freitag (by/until Friday)

It is also used as colloquial leave taking phrases eg ‘bis Morgen’

Question 6

Für

Answer 6

Indicates a time period extending from now (similar to ‘for’)
Eg ich habe das Haus für sechs Monate gemietet

Question 7

Gegen

Answer 7

Usually means ‘towards’ (i.e. Just
before or about)
Eg ‘gegen Mittag/Abend’

Question 8

In + Dativ

Answer 8

Used to denote periods of time (although not days/times of day when ‘an’ is used). It is always used with dative in time expressions.

Eg im Augenblick (at the moment) or im Jahre 2012

Can also be used to denote a period of time within which something happens
Ich habe die Arbeit in zwei Stunden gemacht

Can also be used to denote time after which something happens/is done
Er kommt in einer halben Stunde zurück

Question 9

Nach

Answer 9

Corresponds to ‘later’ or ‘after’

Eg Nach vielen Jahren

Question 10

Seit

Answer 10

Marks a period of time beginning in the past and continuing to present or more recent point in past. Similar to ‘since’/’for’
Eg er ist seit drei Woche hier

Question 11

Über

Answer 11

Occurs in a few time expressions as ‘over’ and is always in accusative

Eg sie ist über Nacht/übers Wochenende geblieben

Question 12

Um

Answer 12

Used with clock times as ‘at’

However with other time words expresses approximation (i.e. ‘Around’ or ‘about’)
Eg um Mitternacht

Question 13

Von

Answer 13

Indicates start point in time and corresponds to ‘from’ and is often used with following ‘an’.

Eg ‘Von nun an’ (from now on)

Question 14

Vor + Dativ

Answer 14

Corresponds to ‘ago’ or ‘before’ and is always used with dative

Eg vor einem Jahr (a year ago)

Question 15

Während

Answer 15

Corresponds to ‘during’
Eg während des letzten Urlaub

However it is not used with words like Tag, Abend, Nacht or Jahr if these words simply have a definite article (then am is used)
Eg am Tag (during the day)

However if there is an adjective, then während is used
Eg während der letzten Nacht (during last night)

Question 16

Zu

Answer 16

Used as ‘at’ and is used with:h

All major festivals (eg zu Weihnachten)

Zu used with Zeit and Stunde to denote one or more specific points/periods of time
Zu der Zeit (at that time)

Whereas in is used to denote period within or after something occurs
Eg In all der Zeit… (in all that time…)

Zu is also used with Mal
Eg ‘Zum Ersten mal’

Question 17

Gestern/Heute/morgen

Answer 17

Used in conjunction with words to indicate periods of the day (yesterday/today/tomorrow)

Eg gestern Morgen (yesterday morning)

Question 18

Vorher/zuvor

Answer 18

Used as ‘before’ for past or future time

Eg ich war ein Jahr vorher/zuvor da gewesen (i had been there a year before)

Question 19

Früher/zuvor

Answer 19

Corresponds to before but refers to time up to present moment

Eg sie hätten es mir früher sagen sollen.