Adverbs of Time
Adverbs of time describe when something happens or how often something occurs.
These adverbs answer questions like 'wann?' (when?), 'wie oft?' (how often?), or 'wie lange?' (how long?).
This lesson covers common German adverbs of time and their usage in sentences.
Explanation
Common adverbs of time include: heute (today), gestern (yesterday), morgen (tomorrow), jetzt (now), dann (then).
Frequency adverbs: immer (always), oft (often), manchmal (sometimes), selten (rarely), nie (never).
Adverbs of time usually come early in the sentence, often right after the verb or at the beginning for emphasis.
Time expressions can also be used as adverbs: heute Abend (this evening), nächste Woche (next week).
Common Adverbs of Time
| Adverb | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| heute | today | Ich gehe heute ins Kino. | I'm going to the cinema today. |
| gestern | yesterday | Er war gestern hier. | He was here yesterday. |
| morgen | tomorrow | Wir kommen morgen. | We're coming tomorrow. |
| jetzt | now | Ich mache es jetzt. | I'm doing it now. |
| dann | then | Dann gehen wir. | Then we'll go. |
| immer | always | Sie ist immer pünktlich. | She is always punctual. |
| oft | often | Ich gehe oft ins Kino. | I often go to the cinema. |
| manchmal | sometimes | Manchmal bin ich müde. | Sometimes I am tired. |
| selten | rarely | Er kommt selten. | He rarely comes. |
| nie | never | Ich trinke nie Kaffee. | I never drink coffee. |
Examples
Ich gehe heute ins Kino.
I'm going to the cinema today.
Er war gestern hier.
He was here yesterday.
Wir kommen morgen.
We're coming tomorrow.
Sie ist immer pünktlich.
She is always punctual.
Ich gehe oft ins Kino.
I often go to the cinema.
Manchmal bin ich müde.
Sometimes I am tired.
Ich trinke nie Kaffee.
I never drink coffee.
Common Mistakes
Ich gehe heute Abend ins Kino
Ich gehe heute Abend ins Kino
Actually correct! 'heute Abend' is a time expression that works as an adverb.
Ich bin immer müde
Ich bin immer müde
Correct! 'immer' comes after the verb 'bin'.
Related Exercises
Multiple Choice
Test this grammar topic with multiple-choice questions and instant feedback.
Start exercise →Write the Form
Active recall: type the correct article, ending, or form yourself.
Start exercise →Complete the Sentence
Fill gaps in real sentences to practice the rule in context.
Start exercise →Common Mistakes
Spot the only correct sentence and avoid frequent grammar traps.
Start exercise →Related Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which article to use?
German articles (der, die, das) depend on the gender of the noun. While there are some patterns, many nouns must be memorized. Practice and exposure to German will help you learn them naturally.
What's the difference between definite and indefinite articles?
Definite articles (der, die, das) mean 'the' and refer to specific things. Indefinite articles (ein, eine) mean 'a/an' and refer to non-specific things. Both must match the noun's gender: use 'ein' for masculine/neuter and 'eine' for feminine.
Are there rules for determining noun gender?
While there are some helpful patterns (e.g., words ending in -ung are usually feminine), there are many exceptions. The best approach is to learn nouns with their articles from the beginning.
What happens if I use the wrong article?
While using the wrong article is a common mistake, native speakers will usually still understand you. However, using the correct article is important for sounding natural and fluent in German.