German grammar: Zeitangaben

What this grammar point covers

Zeitangaben are words or phrases in German that tell us when something happens. They answer questions like 'When?', 'How long?', or 'How often?'.

When to use it

Use Zeitangaben in German to say when something happens, how often, or for how long. They help you talk about your daily routine, appointments, holidays, and more.

Key forms

• am + Tag/Datum (am Montag, am 3. Mai)
• um + Uhrzeit (um 8 Uhr)
• im + Monat/Jahreszeit (im Januar, im Sommer)
• von ... bis ... (von Montag bis Freitag, von 8 bis 10 Uhr)
• seit + Zeitpunkt (seit 2019)
• jeden + Tag/Woche (jeden Tag, jede Woche)

Examples

Tips

• Remember to use the correct preposition: 'am' for days and dates, 'im' for months and seasons, 'um' for times.
• The time comes early in the sentence in German, often before the verb.
• Don't forget the correct endings: 'jeden Tag', 'jede Woche', 'jedes Jahr'.

Exceptions and edge cases

• Some words like 'heute', 'gestern', 'morgen' do not need a preposition.
• For 'in der Nacht', use 'in' instead of 'am'.