German Grammar A–Z
Look up German grammar topics A–Z, organized by category and level — with clear explanations and examples.
Types of Temporal Adverbs
Adverbs of time (Temporaladverb) are adverbs that provide information about a point in time, a period of time, a sequence, a frequency,..... There are many ways to classify adverbs of time in German. In today's article, we will learn together how to distinguish the types of adverbs of time by the type of question and by their meaning.
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1. Classification by question
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Ab wann? (From what point in time?) Refers to the point in time when the action begins. |
A: „Ab wann kannst du mir helfen?“ (When can you help me?) B: „Ab morgen.“ (Starting tomorrow.) |
Answer with „ab“ + Temporaladverb: ab dann (from then on), ab jetzt (from now on), ab morgen (from tomorrow), ab übermorgen (from the day after tomorrow), ab sofort (from now, immediately),.... |
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Bis Wann? (Until what point in time?) Refers to the point in time when the action ends. |
A: „Bis wann kannst du mir helfen?“ (Until when can you help me?) B: „Bis morgen“ (Until tomorrow). |
Answer with „bis“ + Temporaladverb: bis morgen (until tomorrow), bis übermorgen (until the day after tomorrow), bis später (until later), bis jetzt (until now), bis nachher (until afterwards)........ |
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Seit wann? (Since when?) Refers to an action that began in the past and has not yet ended. |
A: „Seit wann hast du nicht mehr geschlafen?“ (Since when have you been awake?) B: „Seit gestern habe ich nicht mehr geschlafen.“ (Since yesterday I haven't slept at all.) |
Answer with „seit“ + Temporaladverb: seit gestern (since yesterday), seit gerade (since just now), seit damals (since then),… |
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Wie lange? (How long) Refers to a period of time. |
A: „Wie lange hast du nicht mehr geschlafen?“ (How long have you not slept?) B: „Seit gestern habe ich nicht mehr geschlafen.“ (Since yesterday I haven't slept at all.) |
Usually answered with „seit“ + Adverb : seit eben (since just now), seit gestern (since yesterday),.... In addition, adverbial phrases of time are also used to answer: bis vorhin (earlier), schon immer (always), noch nie (never),.... |
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Wie oft? Asks about frequency. |
A: „Wie oft gehst du ins Fitness-Studio?“ (How often do you go to the gym?) B: „Ich gehe selten ins Fitness-Studio.“ (I rarely go to the gym.) |
Answer with adverbs of frequency: selten (rarely), oft (often), mehrmals (several times), einmal (once), immer (always), montags (every Monday), abends (every evening)… |
2. By meaning
Adverbs of time describe a point in time (Zeitpunkt), a frequency (Häufigkeit), a period of time (Zeitraum), or a sequence (Reihenfolge):
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Point in time (Zeitpunkt) |
bald, damals, dann, gerade, gestern, heute, heutzutage, inzwischen, jetzt, nie, sofort, später, ….. |
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Frequency (Häufigkeit) |
morgens, mittags, abends, ….. montags, dienstags, mittwochs,.... Immer, manchmal, selten, täglich, oft,.... |
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Period of time (Zeitraum) |
schon immer, seit eben, seit gestern,.... |
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Sequence (Reihenfolge) |
zuerst, danach, anschließend, schließlich, dann,.... |
