Temporale Präpositionen (vor/nach/seit/bis)
Temporale Präpositionen — for English Speakers
Introduction
German temporal prepositions map roughly to English ones: vor (before/ago), nach (after), seit (since/for), bis (until). But they come with case requirements — vor, nach, and seit take dative, bis takes accusative. English speakers also confuse 'seit' because German uses present tense with it ('Ich lerne seit zwei Jahren Deutsch' = I have been learning for two years).
German vs English
In German
Nach dem Essen (after the meal) — nach + dative
In English
After the meal — no case change in English
Key Difference
German 'nach' requires dative; English 'after' needs nothing special.
In German
Seit zwei Jahren lerne ich Deutsch. (present tense!)
In English
I have been learning German for two years. (present perfect continuous)
Key Difference
German uses present tense with 'seit'; English uses present perfect continuous.
Common Mistakes for English Speakers
Ich habe seit zwei Jahren Deutsch gelernt.
Using past tense with 'seit' because English says 'I have been learning' — German uses present tense.
Vor dem Essen / Nach der Essen
Wrong article — 'Essen' is neuter (das Essen), so dative = dem. English has no case to worry about.
Practice Examples
Seit zwei Jahren lerne ich Deutsch.
I've been learning German for two years.
Nach dem Unterricht gehe ich nach Hause.
After class I go home.
Vor dem Frühstück jogge ich.
Before breakfast I go jogging.
Memory Tip
SEIT + present tense = English present perfect. 'Seit 3 Jahren lerne ich' = 'I have been learning for 3 years.'
View Grammar Rule
Temporale Präpositionen (vor/nach/seit/bis)
Temporale Präpositionen — A2
Practice Exercises
Temporale Präpositionen (vor/nach/seit/bis) Übungen
8 exercises
Other Languages
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