In German, the prepositions “bis,” “ab,” and “für” are used to express time periods. Let’s take a closer look at each one.
“Bis” is used to express a point in time up until which something will happen. For example:
Ich werde bis 22:00 Uhr arbeiten. (“I will be working until 10:00 PM.”)
Wir haben noch Zeit bis zum Abendessen. (We have time until dinner.)
“Ab” is used to express a starting point in time from which something will happen. For example:
Ab morgen kannst du in die Schule gehen. (Starting from tomorrow, you can go to school.)
Ab jetzt werde ich keine Zeit mehr verschwenden. (Starting now, I will not waste any more time.)
“Für” is used to express a length of time during which something will happen. For example:
Ich brauche drei Stunden für die Arbeit. (I need three hours for the work.)
Wir haben genug Zeit für einen Spaziergang. (We have enough time for a walk.)
In English, these prepositions can be translated as “until,” “from,” and “for,” respectively. When used to express time, they play an important role in German grammar and can help you communicate more effectively.