Grammar (Higher): Time — AQA GCSE German

In German, expressing time accurately is crucial for both spoken and written communication, especially at the GCSE Higher level. This topic covers how to tell the time, discuss schedules, and sequence events using a range of temporal expressions. Mastering time-related vocabulary and grammar allows you to describe your daily routine, make plans, and narrate past events with precision, which is essential for achieving higher marks in speaking and writing tasks.

Time expressions in German involve specific prepositions (um, am, im, von...bis), conjunctions (als, wenn, während), and word order rules. For example, 'um' is used for specific clock times (um 8 Uhr), 'am' for days and parts of the day (am Montag, am Morgen), and 'im' for months and seasons (im Januar, im Sommer). Additionally, subordinate clauses with 'wenn' or 'als' require the verb to go to the end, which is a key grammatical structure for higher-level responses.

This topic builds on foundational vocabulary for numbers and daily activities, and it connects to other grammar areas such as separable verbs (e.g., aufstehen – to get up) and the use of the perfect tense to describe past events. By understanding time expressions, you can create more complex sentences and demonstrate a wider range of structures, which is exactly what examiners look for to award top marks.

• →Using 'um' for specific times (um 8 Uhr), 'am' for days and parts of the day (am Dienstag, am Nachmittag), and 'im' for months, seasons, and years (im März, im Sommer, im Jahr 2020).
• →Word order in time clauses: when a sentence starts with a time expression, the verb must come next (e.g., 'Um 8 Uhr stehe ich auf').
• →Subordinate clauses with 'wenn' (when, if) and 'als' (when, past single event): the conjugated verb goes to the end (e.g., 'Wenn ich Zeit habe, gehe ich ins Kino'; 'Als ich jung war, spielte ich Fußball').
• →Prepositions 'von...bis' to indicate duration (von 9 bis 17 Uhr) and 'seit' for ongoing actions (seit einer Stunde).
• →Adverbs of time: 'heute', 'morgen', 'gestern', 'jetzt', 'dann', 'danach', 'früher', 'später' – their position in the sentence (often in first or second position).

• Correct use of 'seit' with the imperfect tense to indicate an action that began in the past and continued into the past.
• Accurate conjugation of verbs in the imperfect tense when used with 'seit'.
• Correct word order in sentences involving temporal clauses.

• 💡Remember that 'seit' + present tense = action still happening now.
• 💡Remember that 'seit' + imperfect tense = action that was happening for a duration in the past.
• 💡Check the tense of the main verb in the sentence to ensure it matches the temporal requirement of 'seit'.
• 💡To impress examiners, use a variety of time expressions in your writing and speaking. Instead of always saying 'um 8 Uhr', try 'gegen 8 Uhr' (around 8 o'clock) or 'sofort nach der Schule' (immediately after school).
• 💡In the speaking exam, when describing your daily routine, use time clauses with 'bevor' (before), 'nachdem' (after), and 'während' (while) to show complex sentence structures. Remember that 'nachdem' triggers the perfect tense in the subordinate clause (e.g., 'Nachdem ich gefrühstückt habe, putze ich mir die Zähne').
• 💡Pay attention to word order in subordinate clauses: the verb must go to the end. This is a common error that can cost marks. Practice writing sentences like 'Ich rufe dich an, wenn ich zu Hause bin' (not 'wenn ich bin zu Hause').

• Confusing the use of 'seit' with the present tense (which indicates an action continuing into the present) with 'seit' used with the imperfect tense (which indicates an action continuing into the past).
• Incorrect verb conjugation in the imperfect tense.
• Misplacing 'seit' or the time phrase within the sentence structure.
• Confusing 'um' and 'am': 'um' is only for clock times (um 3 Uhr), while 'am' is for days and parts of the day (am Montag, am Abend). Saying 'am 3 Uhr' is incorrect.
• Forgetting verb inversion when starting a sentence with a time expression: e.g., 'Um 8 Uhr ich stehe auf' is wrong; it should be 'Um 8 Uhr stehe ich auf'.
• Mixing up 'wenn' and 'als': 'wenn' is used for repeated or future events ('Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause'), while 'als' is for a single past event ('Als ich 10 war, zog ich um').