A2 Case System 17 min read Easy

German Accusative Time: Every day & Next week (Akkusativ für Zeitangaben)

Drop the preposition and use the Accusative case for definite time points and durations in German.

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use the Accusative case for time expressions that describe 'when' or 'how long' without a preposition.

  • Use Accusative for specific days: 'Ich komme {den|m} nächsten Montag.'
  • Use Accusative for recurring time: 'Ich arbeite {jeden|m} Tag.'
  • Use Accusative for duration: 'Ich warte {den|m} ganzen Tag.'
Time Word (Accusative) + Verb + Subject

Overview

In German, expressing specific points or durations of time often employs a grammatical structure known as the adverbial accusative of time. This construction allows you to specify when an action occurs or for how long it lasts without the use of a preposition. Instead, the accusative case itself conveys this temporal information.

You'll primarily encounter this when indicating repetitive events (jeden Tag der – every day), definite future or past moments (nächste Woche die – next week), or the entire duration of an event (den ganzen Abend der – the whole evening). This directness is a hallmark of German precision and, once mastered, significantly enhances the naturalness and efficiency of your communication, moving beyond textbook formality.

This grammatical pattern functions conceptually like a direct object of time. Just as a verb's direct object (den Ball der – the ball) receives the action, these accusative time expressions delimitate the temporal scope or extent of the verb's action. The accusative case, traditionally associated with direct objects, here extends its function to mark a specific temporal boundary.

While it applies to time nouns of all three genders and in plural, the morphological changes are most evident in masculine singular nouns and their accompanying determiners or adjectives, due to the distinct -en ending.

Understanding this concept is crucial because it allows for a more concise and idiomatic expression of time. Rather than relying on circumlocutions with prepositions, the case itself becomes the carrier of meaning. This system underscores the German language's inherent structure, where grammatical cases play a more active role in conveying relationships than in English, where prepositions are almost exclusively used for similar temporal indications.

How This Grammar Works

At its core, the adverbial accusative of time operates by assigning the accusative case to a noun phrase that denotes a specific time. This assignment bypasses the need for prepositions like an (on), in (in), vor (before), or seit (since), which would typically govern the dative or genitive cases in temporal contexts. The accusative case, in this specific application, therefore carries the implicit meaning of "on," "at," "during," "for," or "every."
This grammatical mechanism is fundamentally about definiteness. The accusative is reserved for time expressions that refer to a clearly identifiable, non-vague point or period. For instance, diesen Montag der (this specific Monday) uses the accusative because "this" renders the day definite.
Conversely, if you were to speak of an indefinite "one day," you would typically use the genitive (eines Tages), highlighting the distinction between specific, known timeframes and general, unspecified ones. This precision reflects a logical categorization within the German case system.
The accusative case here marks the extent or duration of an action, or its specific point in time. It’s not an actual direct object in the semantic sense of receiving an action, but rather an adverbial adjunct that answers questions like Wann? (When?) or Wie lange? (How long?). This function is similar to how the accusative can mark spatial extent (Ich bin den ganzen Weg gelaufen. – I walked the whole way).
The case delineates a boundary – here, a temporal one – for the verb's activity.
Key words that frequently precede and trigger this adverbial accusative construction include:
  • jed- (every): Used for recurring events. Example: Ich treffe mich jeden Freitag mit Freunden. (I meet friends every Friday.)
  • dies- (this): Refers to the current or immediately upcoming/past period. Example: Diesen Monat haben wir viel Arbeit. (This month we have a lot of work.)
  • nächst- (next): Indicates the immediate future. Example: Nächstes Jahr fahre ich nach Berlin. (Next year I'm going to Berlin.)
  • letzt- (last/previous): Refers to the immediate past. Example: Letzte Woche war ich krank. (Last week I was sick.)
  • ganz- (whole/entire): Denotes the full duration of a period. Example: Sie hat die ganze Nacht gearbeitet. (She worked the whole night.)
These determiners act as strong adjectives, taking the appropriate accusative endings that then determine the case of the entire phrase. The noun itself remains unchanged morphologically (e.g., Tag, Woche, Jahr), but its gender governs the ending of the preceding determiner.

Formation Pattern

1
Forming adverbial accusative time expressions is highly systematic and follows the inflection patterns of adjectives or determiners. The primary rule is that the article-like word or adjective preceding the time noun takes the accusative ending corresponding to the noun's gender and number. The noun itself typically does not change, except in some specific plural forms where an -n might be added.
2
The process can be broken down into three logical steps:
3
Identify the gender of the time noun: Determine if it's masculine (der), feminine (die), or neuter (das). For example, der Tag der, die Woche die, das Jahr das, die Ferien die(Plural) (holidays).
4
Choose the appropriate determiner/adjective: Select words like jed- (every), dies- (this), nächst- (next), letzt- (last), ganz- (whole), or a cardinal number (ein-, zwei). These words will carry the case ending.
5
Apply the correct accusative ending: The endings are consistent with the strong declension of adjectives, as these words stand in for or behave like articles or demonstratives.
6
Here is a comprehensive table detailing the endings for the most common determiners/adjectives in adverbial accusative time expressions:
7
| Gender | Determiner Stem | Accusative Ending | Example Phrase | English Translation |
8
|--------------|-----------------|-------------------|--------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
9
| Masculine| jed- | -en | jeden Tag der | every day |
10
| | dies- | -en | diesen Morgen der | this morning |
11
| | nächst- | -en | nächsten Montag der | next Monday |
12
| | letzt- | -en | letzten Monat der | last month |
13
| | ganz- | -en | den ganzen Abend der | the whole evening |
14
| Feminine | jed- | -e | jede Stunde die | every hour |
15
| | dies- | -e | diese Woche die | this week |
16
| | nächst- | -e | nächste Nacht die | next night |
17
| | letzt- | -e | letzte Saison die | last season |
18
| | ganz- | -e | die ganze Familie die | the whole family (duration of something affecting family) |
19
| Neuter | jed- | -es | jedes Jahr das | every year |
20
| | dies- | -es | dieses Wochenende das | this weekend |
21
| | nächst- | -es | nächstes Mal das | next time |
22
| | letzt- | -es | letztes Quartal das | last quarter |
23
| | ganz- | -es | das ganze Leben das | the whole life |
24
| Plural | jed- (seldom) | -e | alle Tage die(Plural) | all days |
25
| | dies- | -e | diese Tage die(Plural) | these days |
26
| | nächst- | -e | nächste Ferien die(Plural) | next holidays |
27
| | letzt- | -e | letzte Jahre die(Plural) | last years |
28
| | ganz- | -en | die ganzen Wochen die(Plural) | the whole weeks |
29
Note that ganz- often uses a definite article (e.g., den ganzen Tag) because it refers to a specific, identifiable whole. When ganz- is used without an article, its endings follow the strong declension similar to jed- (e.g., ganzer Tag – a whole day, less common for time adverbial). For plural time nouns, ensure the noun itself is in its plural form (e.g., die Tage, die Wochen, die Jahre). The determiner alle (all) also commonly takes the accusative plural ending -e (e.g., alle Wochen).
30
Example sentence construction:
31
Wir haben jeden Morgen eine Besprechung. (We have a meeting every morning.) - Here, Morgen der is masculine, so jeden is used.
32
Ich habe diese Woche viel gelernt. (I learned a lot this week.) - Woche die is feminine, thus diese.
33
Letztes Jahr war ich in Österreich. (Last year I was in Austria.) - Jahr das is neuter, leading to letztes.
34
This systematic application of endings ensures grammatical correctness and clear temporal meaning without ambiguity.

When To Use It

The adverbial accusative of time is utilized in several distinct contexts, primarily concerning frequency, specific temporal points, and duration. Mastering these applications will enable precise and natural communication about schedules and events.
  1. 1For Frequency and Repetition: This is arguably the most common use. When you want to express that something occurs regularly or "every" given period, the accusative is mandatory. It highlights the habitual nature of an action.
  • Example: Ich trinke jeden Tag Kaffee. (I drink coffee every day.) – Emphasizes a daily habit.
  • Example: Wir fahren jedes Jahr in den Urlaub. (We go on vacation every year.) – Denotes an annual routine.
  • Example: Er geht jeden Mittwoch zum Sport. (He goes to sports every Wednesday.) – Highlights a weekly occurrence.
This category encompasses jeden Morgen der (every morning), jeden Abend der (every evening), jede Woche die (every week), jedes Wochenende das (every weekend), etc.
  1. 1For Specific Future or Past Points: To refer to a definite upcoming or preceding time period, especially with determiners like dies- (this), nächst- (next), or letzt- (last). This usage anchors an event to a particular, known moment on the timeline.
  • Example: Wir treffen uns nächsten Dienstag um zehn Uhr. (We're meeting next Tuesday at ten o'clock.) – Pinpoints a specific future day.
  • Example: Letzten Monat habe ich meinen Job gewechselt. (Last month I changed my job.) – Refers to a definite past month.
  • Example: Dieses Wochenende bleiben wir zu Hause. (This weekend we are staying at home.) – Specifies the current upcoming weekend.
Common phrases include nächsten Montag der, diese Woche die, letzten Sommer der, nächstes Jahr das, diesen Abend der.
  1. 1For Duration or Extent: When you want to state how long an action or state persists, especially with ganz- (whole/entire). This signifies the full, uninterrupted extent of a time period.
  • Example: Sie hat den ganzen Tag geschlafen. (She slept the whole day.) – Indicates the full duration of the day.
  • Example: Ich habe die ganze Nacht darüber nachgedacht. (I thought about it the whole night.) – Emphasizes thinking throughout the entire night.
  • Example: Es hat das ganze Wochenende geregnet. (It rained the whole weekend.) – Describes the continuous rain over the entire weekend.
Phrases such as den ganzen Vormittag der (the whole morning), die ganze Reise die (the whole journey), das ganze Leben das (the whole life) fall into this category.
In all these instances, the accusative case acts as a powerful, compact way to convey precise temporal information. It's a linguistic shortcut that allows for direct and unambiguous expression, characteristic of the German language's structural economy. The rule is highly productive and applies across various time-related nouns, from specific days and months to seasons and broader periods.

Common Mistakes

Learners frequently encounter specific pitfalls when attempting to use the adverbial accusative of time. These errors typically stem from a misunderstanding of case function, gender, or interference from English grammatical patterns.
  1. 1Omitting the Accusative Ending for Masculine Nouns: This is arguably the most prevalent mistake. Learners often default to the nominative form, particularly with jed-, leading to jeder Tag der instead of the correct jeden Tag der. The distinction is crucial: Jeder Tag ist eine neue Chance. (Every day is a new chance.) uses Jeder Tag as the nominative subject. However, when expressing "every day" as an adverbial time modifier, it must be accusative: Ich lese jeden Tag ein Buch. (I read a book every day.). Forgetting the -en ending on masculine determiners (like jeden, diesen, nächsten, letzten) invalidates the construction.
  1. 1Mixing Prepositions with Accusative Time Expressions: A fundamental error is combining a preposition that already governs a case (usually dative for time) with an adverbial accusative phrase. For example, stating an jeden Montag is grammatically incorrect. It must be either am Montag (on Monday, dative with preposition an) or jeden Montag (every Monday, adverbial accusative without preposition). The accusative case itself carries the temporal meaning, rendering an additional preposition redundant and grammatically contradictory. You cannot say "on every Monday" in the literal German translation because the German construction already implies the "on" or "every."
  1. 1Incorrect Gender Assignment for Time Nouns: German noun genders are often counter-intuitive for learners. Misidentifying the gender of a time noun will lead to incorrect accusative endings. A common example is der Monat der (month), which is masculine. Learners might mistakenly treat it as neuter or feminine. Consequently, they might say letzte Monat or letztes Monat instead of the correct letzten Monat. Similarly, die Woche die (week) is feminine, and das Jahr das (year) is neuter. Consistent memorization of noun genders with their articles is paramount for correct case application.
  1. 1Using Accusative for Indefinite Time References: The adverbial accusative of time is strictly for definite periods. If the time is vague or unspecified, other constructions are required. For instance, eines Tages (one day/someday) uses the genitive case, implying indefiniteness, and should not be confused with diesen Tag (this day, accusative), which is specific. Using jeden Tag is for a regular, definite recurrence, not for a nebulous "some day."
  1. 1Confusing am with the Adverbial Accusative: While both am Montag and jeden Montag refer to Monday, their meanings and grammatical structures differ significantly. Am Montag (from an dem Montag) uses the preposition an and the dative case to indicate a single, specific event on that Monday. Jeden Montag uses the bare accusative to indicate an event that happens every Monday, emphasizing regularity. Attempting to use am with determiners like jeden or nächsten is incorrect (am jeden Montag is wrong) because these adverbial accusative phrases are inherently preposition-less.
Avoiding these common errors requires diligent practice, a solid understanding of noun genders, and a clear distinction between definite and indefinite temporal references in German.

Real Conversations

In contemporary German, the adverbial accusative of time is not just a grammatical rule confined to textbooks; it is a vital part of everyday communication across all registers, from casual WhatsApp messages to formal business emails. Its conciseness and directness make it highly efficient for conveying temporal information swiftly.

1. Casual Communication (Texting, Social Media, Spoken Language):

This construction is ubiquitous in informal settings, allowing speakers and writers to quickly arrange plans or state routines. The brevity aligns perfectly with the demands of quick digital exchanges.

- Text message: Treffen wir uns nächsten Freitag? (Shall we meet next Friday?) – nächsten Freitag der succinctly sets the meeting date.

- Social media post: War letztes Wochenende in den Bergen. So schön! (Was in the mountains last weekend. So beautiful!) – letztes Wochenende das provides immediate context for the past event.

- Casual conversation: Ich gehe jeden Morgen laufen. (I go running every morning.) – jeden Morgen der expresses a regular habit concisely.

- Arranging a hangout: Hast du diesen Abend Zeit? (Do you have time this evening?) – diesen Abend der points to a specific, immediate timeframe.

2. Formal Communication (Emails, Business Contexts):

Even in professional environments, the adverbial accusative maintains its prominence due to its clarity and efficiency. It avoids verbosity, which is valued in business communication.

- Business email: Ich sende Ihnen die Unterlagen nächste Woche zu. (I will send you the documents next week.) – nächste Woche die clearly states the delivery timeframe.

- Meeting minutes: Die Entscheidung wurde letzten Montag getroffen. (The decision was made last Monday.) – letzten Montag der specifies the exact date of action.

- Project update: Wir werden das ganze Quartal an diesem Projekt arbeiten. (We will work on this project the whole quarter.) – das ganze Quartal das defines the project's duration.

3. In Written and Spoken Narratives:

This construction also serves to establish temporal settings in stories, reports, or anecdotes, grounding the events within a clear timeframe.

- Storytelling: Eines Tages traf er eine Prinzessin. (One day he met a princess.) - Correction: Eines Tages uses genitive for indefinite, not accusative. Diesen Tag werde ich nie vergessen. (This day I will never forget.) – Diesen Tag der emphasizes the significance of a specific past day.

- News report: Letzte Nacht gab es einen schweren Unfall. (Last night there was a serious accident.) – Letzte Nacht die provides the immediate temporal context for the event.

The widespread and natural integration of the adverbial accusative of time into diverse communicative contexts underscores its fundamental importance in German grammar. It is not merely an optional alternative but often the most idiomatic and concise way to express specific temporal relationships.

Quick FAQ

  • Q: Can I use this construction for years?

Absolutely. Nächstes Jahr das (next year) and letztes Jahr das (last year) are standard phrases. Example: Ich möchte nächstes Jahr nach Japan reisen. (I want to travel to Japan next year.)

  • Q: Does this work for parts of the day like morning or evening?

Yes, definitely. Jeden Morgen der (every morning), diesen Abend der (this evening). Note that die Nacht die (night) is feminine, so it becomes diese Nacht or jede Nacht. Example: Diesen Morgen habe ich schon gearbeitet. (This morning I already worked.)

  • Q: What about specific months?

You can use it for months, which are masculine. For example, nächsten Juli der (next July) or letzten Dezember der (last December). Example: Wir planen unseren Umzug nächsten September. (We are planning our move next September.)

  • Q: Can I use it to say "all day" or "the whole week"?

Yes, this is a primary application for indicating duration. Use den ganzen Tag der (the whole day), die ganze Woche die (the whole week), das ganze Wochenende das (the whole weekend). Example: Ich habe den ganzen Tag in der Bibliothek verbracht. (I spent the whole day in the library.)

  • Q: Is this a formal or informal grammatical structure?

It is neither exclusively formal nor informal. It's a fundamental and grammatically correct way to express time in German, used across all registers. You will encounter it in casual conversations, formal writing, and everything in between.

  • Q: Why shouldn't I just use am every time I talk about days or parts of the day?

Am (a contraction of an dem) is used with the dative case to specify a single point in time, usually for days of the week or parts of the day (e.g., am Montag, am Morgen). It implies "on that specific day/morning." The adverbial accusative, however, is used for repetition (jeden Montag) or to indicate a specific, definite upcoming or past period with a determiner (nächsten Montag, diesen Morgen). You cannot combine am with determiners like jed- or nächst-; they convey different meanings and require distinct grammatical structures. For instance, am jedes Jahr is incorrect; it would be jedes Jahr. Using am for indefinite duration or specific future/past periods is grammatically unsound and does not convey the intended meaning.

  • Q: What if the time noun is plural, like "weeks" or "days"?

The determiners (dies-, nächst-, letzt-) will take the plural accusative ending, which is typically -e. For example, diese drei Wochen die(Plural) (these three weeks) or die letzten zwei Jahre das(Plural) (the last two years). The noun itself must also be in its plural form. The determiner alle (all) is also common: alle Tage (all days).

  • Q: Are there other similar determiners I can use besides jed-, dies-, nächst-, letzt-, ganz-?

Yes, you can also use vorig- (previous, last) which functions identically to letzt-. Example: Vorige Woche war es kalt. (Last/Previous week it was cold.) Also, ordinals like den ersten Tag (the first day) or den letzten Abend (the last evening) follow the same accusative pattern.

  • Q: Why is it called "accusative" for time? What is being "accused" or acting as a direct object?

This is a nuanced point in linguistics. While the accusative case primarily marks direct objects that undergo an action, it also has a secondary function to mark extent or direction in both space and time. In phrases like Ich bin den ganzen Weg gelaufen. (I walked the whole way.), den ganzen Weg is accusative, indicating the spatial extent of the movement. Similarly, Ich habe den ganzen Tag gelernt. (I studied the whole day.) uses the accusative to mark the temporal extent or duration of the studying. The time noun isn't "receiving" an action in the typical sense, but rather it's delimiting the temporal scope within which the action unfolds, acting as an adverbial modifier of extent rather than a direct object. This demonstrates the broader, more abstract roles cases can play in German grammar beyond their most common applications.

Accusative Time Articles

Gender Nominative Accusative (Time)
Masculine
der
den
Feminine
die
die
Neuter
das
das
Plural
die
die

Common Time Phrases

Phrase Meaning
jeden Tag
every day
nächste Woche
next week
letztes Jahr
last year
den ganzen Tag
all day

Meanings

The Accusative of time is used to define a temporal point or duration in a sentence without needing a preposition like 'an' or 'in'.

1

Recurring time

Actions that happen repeatedly.

“Ich gehe {jeden|m} Tag joggen.”

“Wir treffen uns {jede|f} Woche.”

2

Specific future/past time

Referring to a specific upcoming or past time unit.

“Ich habe {den|m} nächsten Montag frei.”

“{Die|f} nächste Woche wird stressig.”

3

Duration

How long something lasts.

“Ich habe {den|m} ganzen Tag gelernt.”

“Er hat {die|f} ganze Nacht gearbeitet.”

Reference Table

Reference table for German Accusative Time: Every day & Next week (Akkusativ für Zeitangaben)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Time + Verb + Subject
Jeden Tag lerne ich.
Negative
Time + Verb + nicht + Subject
Jeden Tag lerne ich nicht.
Question
Verb + Time + Subject?
Lernst du jeden Tag?
Duration
Accusative Duration + Verb
Ich warte den ganzen Tag.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Ich arbeite täglich.

Ich arbeite täglich. (Work routine)

Neutral
Ich arbeite jeden Tag.

Ich arbeite jeden Tag. (Work routine)

Informal
Ich arbeite jeden Tag.

Ich arbeite jeden Tag. (Work routine)

Slang
Ich schufte jeden Tag.

Ich schufte jeden Tag. (Work routine)

Accusative of Time Map

Accusative Time

Recurring

  • jeden Tag every day

Sequence

  • nächste Woche next week

Duration

  • den ganzen Tag all day

Accusative vs Dative Time

Accusative (No Prep)
jeden Tag every day
Dative (With Prep)
am Montag on Monday

Examples by Level

1

Ich arbeite {jeden|m} Tag.

I work every day.

2

Wir sehen uns {den|m} nächsten Montag.

We see each other next Monday.

3

Ich habe {die|f} ganze Woche Zeit.

I have time the whole week.

4

{Das|n} nächste Jahr wird gut.

The next year will be good.

1

Hast du {den|m} nächsten Freitag Zeit?

Do you have time next Friday?

2

Ich habe {den|m} ganzen Vormittag gewartet.

I waited the whole morning.

3

{Jeden|m} Monat bezahle ich die Miete.

Every month I pay the rent.

4

Wir waren {die|f} letzte Woche im Urlaub.

We were on vacation last week.

1

Er hat {den|m} letzten Sommer in Spanien verbracht.

He spent last summer in Spain.

2

Können wir {das|n} nächste Mal früher anfangen?

Can we start earlier next time?

3

{Jeden|m} zweiten Tag gehe ich schwimmen.

Every second day I go swimming.

4

Sie hat {die|f} ganze Nacht an dem Projekt gearbeitet.

She worked on the project all night.

1

Wir erwarten {den|m} nächsten Monat eine Entscheidung.

We expect a decision next month.

2

{Jeden|m} einzelnen Tag lerne ich etwas Neues.

Every single day I learn something new.

3

Ich habe {die|f} letzte Woche kaum geschlafen.

I barely slept last week.

4

{Das|n} nächste Mal, wenn du kommst, bring Kuchen mit.

Next time you come, bring cake.

1

{Den|m} ganzen Tag über habe ich versucht, dich zu erreichen.

All day long I tried to reach you.

2

Es ist {jeden|m} Tag dasselbe Spiel.

It is the same game every day.

3

{Die|f} nächste Woche steht ganz im Zeichen der Konferenz.

Next week is entirely dedicated to the conference.

4

Er hat {das|n} letzte Jahr damit verbracht, zu reisen.

He spent last year traveling.

1

{Jeden|m} Tag aufs Neue überrascht mich das Leben.

Every day anew, life surprises me.

2

{Den|m} nächsten Monat werden wir intensiv an der Analyse arbeiten.

Next month we will work intensively on the analysis.

3

{Die|f} letzte Woche war geprägt von intensiven Verhandlungen.

Last week was characterized by intense negotiations.

4

{Das|n} nächste Mal sei bitte pünktlicher.

Next time, please be more punctual.

Easily Confused

German Accusative Time: Every day & Next week (Akkusativ für Zeitangaben) vs Dative Time

Learners mix up 'am' (Dative) and no preposition (Accusative).

German Accusative Time: Every day & Next week (Akkusativ für Zeitangaben) vs Nominative vs Accusative

Learners use 'der' instead of 'den' for time.

German Accusative Time: Every day & Next week (Akkusativ für Zeitangaben) vs Adjective endings

Learners forget to decline the adjective.

Common Mistakes

am jeden Tag

jeden Tag

Do not use a preposition with the Accusative of time.

der nächste Montag

den nächsten Montag

Masculine nouns must change to Accusative.

in die Woche

die Woche

No preposition needed for duration.

jeder Tag

jeden Tag

Must be Accusative.

an nächsten Montag

nächsten Montag

No preposition.

den ganzen Woche

die ganze Woche

Woche is feminine.

jeden Woche

jede Woche

Woche is feminine.

am nächsten Mal

das nächste Mal

No preposition.

den letztes Jahr

das letzte Jahr

Jahr is neuter.

in den ganzen Tag

den ganzen Tag

No preposition.

an jeden Tag

jeden Tag

Still a common error in complex sentences.

den nächste Woche

die nächste Woche

Gender error.

in das nächste Mal

das nächste Mal

No preposition.

Sentence Patterns

Ich mache ___ jeden Tag.

Wir sehen uns ___ nächste Woche.

Ich habe ___ ganze Woche Zeit.

___ nächste Mal komme ich pünktlich.

Real World Usage

Texting friends very common

Bis nächste Woche!

Job interview common

Ich habe den nächsten Monat Zeit.

Ordering food occasional

Ich bestelle jeden Tag Pizza.

Travel planning common

Wir bleiben den ganzen Urlaub hier.

Social media constant

Jeden Tag ein neues Foto!

Emailing boss common

Ich bin die nächste Woche abwesend.

💡

Check the gender

Always check if the noun is masculine. If it is, change 'der' to 'den'.
⚠️

No prepositions

If you see 'jeden' or 'nächsten', don't add 'an' or 'in'.
🎯

Use 'ganzen'

Use 'den ganzen Tag' to sound like a native speaker.
💬

Be precise

Germans appreciate clear timeframes, so use these expressions to be specific.

Smart Tips

Ask yourself: 'Is there a preposition?' If no, use Accusative.

Ich komme an nächsten Montag. Ich komme nächsten Montag.

Always change 'der' to 'den'.

Ich arbeite der ganze Tag. Ich arbeite den ganzen Tag.

Use 'nächste' for future and 'letzte' for past.

Ich war nächste Woche im Urlaub. Ich war letzte Woche im Urlaub.

Use 'ganzen' for masculine nouns.

Ich habe der ganze Tag gewartet. Ich habe den ganzen Tag gewartet.

Pronunciation

/deːn/

Ending -en

Ensure the 'n' is clear in 'den' and 'jeden'.

Time-first

Jeden Tag ↗ arbeite ich.

Emphasis on the frequency.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Accusative is the 'When' case, no preposition in your face!

Visual Association

Imagine a calendar where the days are wearing blue hats (for 'den'). Every time you point to a day, the hat turns blue.

Rhyme

For 'every' or 'next' you must be true, change 'der' to 'den' and you're through!

Story

Hans works {den|m} ganzen Tag. He plans {die|f} nächste Woche. He does this {jeden|m} Monat.

Word Web

jedennächstenletztenden ganzendie ganzedas ganze

Challenge

Write 3 sentences about your schedule for next week using the Accusative of time.

Cultural Notes

Germans value punctuality, so using these phrases correctly is important for social status.

Austrians often use 'nächste Woche' in a very relaxed way.

Swiss speakers might use slightly different word orders but the Accusative rule remains.

The Accusative of time stems from the Germanic use of the Accusative to mark extent in space and time.

Conversation Starters

Was machst du jeden Tag?

Hast du nächste Woche Zeit?

Wie lange hast du den ganzen Tag gearbeitet?

Was planst du für das nächste Jahr?

Journal Prompts

Schreibe über deinen Alltag.
Was hast du nächste Woche vor?
Wie war dein letztes Jahr?
Reflektiere über deine Zeitplanung.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct

Test Yourself

Fill in the correct article.

Ich arbeite ___ ganzen Tag.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: den
Tag is masculine, so it becomes den in Accusative.
Choose the correct phrase. Multiple Choice

___ Woche gehe ich ins Kino.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Die nächste
Woche is feminine.
Find the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ich habe am jeden Tag Zeit.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich habe jeden Tag Zeit.
No preposition with Accusative time.
Change to Accusative. Sentence Transformation

Der Tag ist lang. (I work the whole day)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich arbeite den ganzen Tag.
Accusative for duration.
Match the phrase. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: every day
jeden Tag means every day.
Order the words. Sentence Building

nächste / ich / Woche / komme

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich komme nächste Woche.
Standard word order.
Is this correct? True False Rule

Kann man sagen: 'Ich gehe am nächsten Montag.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nein
No preposition with Accusative time.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Wann sehen wir uns? B: ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nächste Woche.
Accusative time needs no preposition.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the correct article.

Ich arbeite ___ ganzen Tag.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: den
Tag is masculine, so it becomes den in Accusative.
Choose the correct phrase. Multiple Choice

___ Woche gehe ich ins Kino.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Die nächste
Woche is feminine.
Find the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ich habe am jeden Tag Zeit.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich habe jeden Tag Zeit.
No preposition with Accusative time.
Change to Accusative. Sentence Transformation

Der Tag ist lang. (I work the whole day)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich arbeite den ganzen Tag.
Accusative for duration.
Match the phrase. Match Pairs

jeden Tag

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: every day
jeden Tag means every day.
Order the words. Sentence Building

nächste / ich / Woche / komme

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich komme nächste Woche.
Standard word order.
Is this correct? True False Rule

Kann man sagen: 'Ich gehe am nächsten Montag.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nein
No preposition with Accusative time.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Wann sehen wir uns? B: ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nächste Woche.
Accusative time needs no preposition.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Complete the sentence with the correct ending. Fill in the Blank

Wir sehen uns nächst___ Freitag.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: en
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Reorder

Deutsch / jeden / Tag / lerne / ich

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich lerne jeden Tag Deutsch.
Translate 'every year' into German. Translation

We travel to Spain every year.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Wir reisen jedes Jahr nach Spanien.
Select the correct expression for 'the whole night'. Multiple Choice

Ich habe ___ geschlafen.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: die ganze Nacht
Match the English to the German. Match Pairs

Match the time expressions:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: every day:jeden Tag, next year:nächstes Jahr, this week:diese Woche
Fix the ending for 'last summer'. Error Correction

Letzte Sommer war super.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Letzten Sommer war super.
Fill in the blank for 'this morning'. Fill in the Blank

Ich habe ___ Morgen keinen Kaffee getrunken.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: diesen
Which one describes a duration? Multiple Choice

I waited for one hour.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich habe eine Stunde gewartet.
Translate 'last week'. Translation

Last week was stressful.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Letzte Woche war stressig.
Add the correct ending. Fill in the Blank

Kommst du jed___ Samstag?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: en

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Because the Accusative of time is a direct adverbial. Adding 'an' would make it Dative.

Yes, but only masculine nouns show a change in the article (der -> den).

Yes, 'letzten Montag' works perfectly.

It is used in all registers, from casual texts to formal emails.

Plural nouns don't change their article in the Accusative.

If there is no preposition, it is Accusative. If there is a preposition, it is Dative.

Yes, it works with almost any verb.

Extremely common. You will hear it every day.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Todo el día

Spanish uses prepositions often where German uses the Accusative.

French moderate

Toute la journée

German uses case endings (den/die/das) while French does not.

Japanese low

Mainichi (毎日)

Japanese uses particles, German uses case endings.

Arabic partial

Kulla yawm (كل يوم)

Arabic case system is much more complex than German.

Chinese low

Meitian (每天)

Chinese relies on word order, not case endings.

English high

Every day

English has no case system for time.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

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