Time adverbs in German tell us when something happens. They help us express time more precisely in our sentences.
What Are Time Adverbs?
Time adverbs (Zeitadverbien) are words that describe when something occurs. They can refer to the past, present, or future.
Can time adverbs in German refer to multiple time frames?
Yes, they can refer to past, present, or future.
Time adverbs in German can describe actions in the past, present, or future.
Common Time Adverbs
Here are some of the most common time adverbs in German:
| German | English | Example (German) | Example (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| jetzt | now | Ich gehe jetzt. | I am going now. |
| heute | today | Ich bleibe heute zu Hause. | I am staying home today. |
| morgen | tomorrow | Wir treffen uns morgen. | We will meet tomorrow. |
| gestern | yesterday | Ich war gestern im Kino. | I was at the cinema yesterday. |
| bald | soon | Der Zug kommt bald. | The train is coming soon. |
| immer | always | Er ist immer pünktlich. | He is always punctual. |
| oft | often | Ich gehe oft spazieren. | I often go for walks. |
| manchmal | sometimes | Manchmal regnet es hier. | Sometimes it rains here. |
| nie | never | Ich trinke nie Kaffee. | I never drink coffee. |
| bereits | already | Sie ist bereits angekommen. | She has already arrived. |
The train is coming ___ (bald).
Der Zug kommt bald.
'bald' means ‘soon’, indicating the action will happen in the near future.
She has already arrived (Sie ist ___ angekommen).
Sie ist bereits angekommen.
'bereits' means ‘already’, showing the action has been completed before now.
Using Time Adverbs in Sentences
Time adverbs usually appear at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence. The exact position depends on the emphasis.
Beginning of the Sentence
Putting the time adverb at the beginning emphasizes when the action happens.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Gestern habe ich meine Freunde getroffen. | Yesterday I met my friends. |
| Morgen fahren wir nach Berlin. | Tomorrow we are going to Berlin. |
Middle of the Sentence
When placed in the middle, the time adverb usually comes after the verb or the first element.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich habe gestern meine Freunde getroffen. | I met my friends yesterday. |
| Wir fahren morgen nach Berlin. | We are going to Berlin tomorrow. |
Time Adverbs vs. Time Phrases
- Time adverbs are single words (e.g., gestern, heute, morgen).
- Time phrases are groups of words that specify time (e.g., am Montag, vor einer Woche).
Summary
- Time adverbs describe when something happens.
- They can refer to past, present, or future.
- Common time adverbs include jetzt, heute, morgen, gestern, bald, immer, oft, manchmal, nie, bereits.
- Time adverbs can appear at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence.
Time adverbs are simple but powerful tools to make your German more precise and natural.
Flashcards (1 of 14)
- English: now
- Example (English): I am going now.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
