Top 5 German Time Prepositions for A1.1
To make an appointment or talk about a schedule you need at least one of these five time prepositions. These are all the time prepositions (temporale Präpositionen) you need for A1.1. There is nothing more at this level.
The Five Prepositions
| Preposition | Use with | Example |
|---|---|---|
| um (at) | clock time (Uhrzeit) | Der Unterricht beginnt um 8 Uhr. / Die Straßenbahn kommt um 15 Uhr. |
| im (in) | months and seasons | Im Winter ist es in Deutschland kalt. / Im Juli geht er manchmal segeln. |
| am (on, in) | days and times of day | Am Dienstag arbeite ich von zu Hause. / Am Morgen trinke ich oft einen Kaffee. |
| von ... bis (from ... to) | a duration | Er joggt jeden Morgen von 8 bis 9.30 Uhr. / Von Montag bis Donnerstag ist sie im Urlaub. |
| ab (starting from) | a point in time (start known, end not known) | Normalerweise schlafe ich ab 12 Uhr. / Ab 16 Uhr übt sie Geige. |
More Detail on Each One
- um is always used for the exact time.
- im is used for months (im Juli) and seasons (im Winter).
- am is used for days (am Dienstag), times of day (am Morgen) and the weekend (am Wochenende haben viele Leute frei). In German you can combine day and time of day into one word: am Sonntagmorgen backe ich ein Brot (on Sunday morning I bake bread).
- von ... bis also works with days (von Montag bis Donnerstag) and months (von Oktober bis Dezember regnet es oft).
- ab says when something starts, but not how long it lasts.
Bonus Tip: From Big to Small
If you use several time words in one sentence, start with the biggest one and move to the smallest:
- Am Sonntagabend um 20 Uhr schaue ich einen Film.
- Ich mache im April am Samstagnachmittag um 14 Uhr ein Fest.
Homework
Answer one of these questions and use at least one of the prepositions: Wann machst du Sport? and Wann hast du Deutschkurs?
What to Learn Next
Review How to Tell Time in German and Weekdays, Daytime and Months in German. Then continue with German Time Prepositions A1.2: Vor, Nach, In, Für and Time Prepositions A2.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which time prepositions do I need for A1.1?
Five: um, im, am, von ... bis and ab.
When do I use um?
With exact clock times: um 8 Uhr, um 15 Uhr.
When do I use im and am?
Use im with months and seasons (im Juli, im Winter). Use am with days and times of day (am Dienstag, am Morgen, am Wochenende).
What is the difference between von ... bis and ab?
Von ... bis describes a duration with a start and an end. Ab only gives the starting point, and you do not say how long it lasts.
What is the order of several time words in one sentence?
From big to small: am Sonntagabend um 20 Uhr, im April am Samstagnachmittag um 14 Uhr.
Want to learn all the basics for appointments and daily routines? Our A1 German online course covers them step by step.
