Time expressions
Say when, how often, and for how long.
The rule
Use um for clock times, am for days and im for months or seasons. Use seit for a starting point continuing to now, with the present tense.
am + day/date · um + clock time · im + month/season · von … bis · seit + dative
Use um for exact clock times, am for days and parts of the day, and im for months and seasons. Nacht is the common exception: in der Nacht.
Frequency adverbs such as immer, oft, manchmal, selten, and nie normally stand in the middle field and do not change verb agreement.
A time expression can occupy position one for emphasis. The conjugated verb remains second, so the subject follows it: Am Montag arbeite ich.
Core forms and structures
Use this table as a reference, then retrieve the forms without looking.
| Form | Function | German example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| um | exact time | um acht Uhr | at eight o'clock |
| am | day / date | am Montag | on Monday |
| im | month / season | im August | in August |
| von … bis | time range | von neun bis fünf | from nine to five |
| seit | continuing duration | seit einem Jahr | for one year |
| frequency | how often | Ich lerne oft. | I often study. |
German examples with English meanings
Der Kurs beginnt um neun Uhr.
The course begins at nine o'clock.
Exact clock times use um.
Am Montag arbeite ich zu Hause.
On Monday I work from home.
Days use am; the verb remains second.
Wir fahren im August nach Berlin.
We are travelling to Berlin in August.
Months use im.
Die Praxis ist von acht bis zwölf geöffnet.
The clinic is open from eight to twelve.
Von … bis marks a bounded range.
Ich lerne seit einem Jahr Deutsch.
I have been learning German for a year.
Seit takes dative and a present tense for an ongoing duration.
Mia geht jeden Morgen spazieren.
Mia goes for a walk every morning.
Wir treffen uns zweimal pro Woche.
We meet twice per week.
Er kommt manchmal zu spät.
He sometimes arrives late.
In der Nacht ist es ruhig.
It is quiet at night.
Wie lange bleibst du?
How long are you staying?
Common mistakes
Incorrect: Mia geht jeder Morgen spazieren.
Correct: Mia geht jeden Morgen spazieren.
Repeated masculine accusative time uses jeden Morgen.
Incorrect: Wir treffen uns zwei Malen pro Woche.
Correct: Wir treffen uns zweimal pro Woche.
Zweimal is the standard frequency adverb.
Incorrect: Er manchmal kommt zu spät.
Correct: Er kommt manchmal zu spät.
The frequency adverb belongs in the middle field.
Incorrect: Am Nacht ist es ruhig.
Correct: In der Nacht ist es ruhig.
Nacht commonly uses in der, not am.
Incorrect: Wann lange bleibst du?
Correct: Wie lange bleibst du?
Wie lange asks for duration.
Details and useful distinctions
Use seit with a starting point that continues to the present, and von … bis for a bounded range. German often uses the present tense where English uses a perfect form.
Practise this grammar
Sort time into four questions: exact time, calendar time, frequency, or duration. Then choose um, am/im, an adverb, or seit/von–bis.
Open Time expressions exercises →
For source references and editorial level notes, see the grammar reference. You can report a correction if an explanation or example seems wrong.