A2 Prepositions 15 min read Easy

German Time Preposition: On/At (am)

Use am for any time expression that fits into a 24-hour day or a specific calendar date.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'am' to talk about days and times of day, which is a contraction of 'an' + 'dem'.

  • Use 'am' for days of the week: 'am Montag' (on Monday).
  • Use 'am' for parts of the day: 'am Morgen' (in the morning).
  • Use 'am' for dates: 'am ersten Mai' (on the first of May).
an + dem = am

Overview

The German preposition am is a fundamental element for expressing specific temporal references, particularly for learners at the A2 CEFR level. It is a highly frequent contraction, crucial for clearly indicating when an event occurs. Understanding am allows you to specify days of the week, parts of the day, and exact dates, thereby anchoring your communication within a precise temporal framework.

This preposition is not merely a linguistic convenience; it reflects a core principle of German grammar regarding fixed points in time. Mastering its usage will significantly enhance the clarity and naturalness of your German expression. You will encounter am ubiquitously in daily conversations, formal scheduling, and written communications like emails or instant messages, making it indispensable for practical fluency.

How This Grammar Works

The preposition am is a contracted form, specifically merging the preposition an with the definite dative article dem. This grammatical fusion, known as a "Kontraktion" or "Schmelzwort," streamlines spoken and written German. The underlying preposition an is classified as a two-way preposition (Wechselpräposition).
These prepositions can govern either the accusative or dative case, depending on whether they indicate movement towards a destination (accusative) or a fixed, stationary position (dative). When an refers to a point in time, it invariably signifies a fixed position on the timeline, rather than movement through time. Consequently, the dative case is always employed.
The majority of German nouns denoting days of the week (der Montag, der Dienstag, etc.) and parts of the day (der Morgen, der Abend, etc.) are masculine. This grammatical gender dictates the use of the masculine dative definite article dem. Thus, an + dem Morgen contracts to am Morgen.
The same principle applies to the neuter noun das Wochenende, which also takes dem in the dative case, resulting in am Wochenende.
While grammatically correct, using the uncontracted form an dem (e.g., an dem Montag) is highly uncommon and sounds exceptionally formal or antiquated in contemporary German. It would be comparable to an overly literal or legalistic phrasing in English. Native speakers almost exclusively opt for the contracted am in all informal and most formal contexts concerning time.
The primary exception where an dem might appear is in very specific legal or poetic contexts, or when dem functions as a demonstrative pronoun (e.g., an dem Tag, der besonders wichtig war – "on that day, which was particularly important"), which is a distinct grammatical construction from the simple time expression. Your goal should always be to use am when referring to days, parts of days, or dates.

Formation Pattern

1
The formation of temporal expressions with am is straightforward, following a consistent pattern that simplifies its application. You combine the contracted preposition am directly with the noun or date specifying the time. Remember that in German, all nouns are capitalized. When indicating a specific date, the day number is followed by a period (.) which functions as an ordinal indicator (e.g., 12. meaning "twelfth").
2
The basic structure is: am + [Time Noun/Date (Dative)].
3
Here are the primary applications of this pattern:
4
| Category | German Example | Translation | Grammatical Breakdown |
5
| :-------------------- | :-------------------------- | :-------------------------- | :------------------------ |
6
| Days of the Week | am Montag | on Monday | an + der Montag |
7
| | am Freitag | on Friday | an + der Freitag |
8
| Parts of the Day | am Morgen | in the morning | an + der Morgen |
9
| | am Nachmittag | in the afternoon | an + der Nachmittag|
10
| | am Abend | in the evening | an + der Abend |
11
| Specific Dates | am 1. Januar | on January 1st | an + der 1. Januar|
12
| | am 24. Dezember | on December 24th | an + der 24. Dezember|
13
| The Weekend | am Wochenende | on the weekend | an + das Wochenende|
14
This table illustrates that am consistently precedes the temporal noun, which implicitly adopts the dative case due to the an preposition. Ensure the noun's initial letter remains capitalized, as is standard for all German nouns. For dates, the ordinal number often clarifies the specific day within the month.

When To Use It

You should use am to specify occurrences tied to distinct, singular periods generally encompassing a 24-hour cycle or a defined segment within it. This preposition acts as the German equivalent of "on" or "at" for these specific temporal contexts. Its application covers four primary categories:
  • Days of the Week: am is mandatory for referring to any day from Monday through Sunday. This precisely situates an event on a particular day of the week, establishing a clear schedule.
  • Example: Ich habe am Dienstag eine wichtige Präsentation. (I have an important presentation on Tuesday.)
  • Example: Treffen wir uns am Samstag im Café? (Shall we meet at the café on Saturday?)
  • Example: Ihr Geburtstag ist am Donnerstag. (Her birthday is on Thursday.)
  • Parts of the Day: For most standard divisions of the day, am is the correct choice. These include der Morgen (morning), der Vormittag (late morning/forenoon), der Mittag (noon/midday), der Nachmittag (afternoon), and der Abend (evening). These terms are typically masculine, hence the am contraction.
  • Example: Wir frühstücken immer am Morgen. (We always have breakfast in the morning.)
  • Example: Das Museum ist am Nachmittag geöffnet. (The museum is open in the afternoon.)
  • Example: Er kommt am Abend zurück. (He's coming back in the evening.)
  • Specific Dates: When you need to pinpoint an exact calendar date, am is the appropriate preposition. This applies to birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, or any event scheduled for a particular day of a specific month.
  • Example: Die Feier findet am 12. Juli statt. (The celebration takes place on July 12th.)
  • Example: Ich bin am 3. Mai geboren. (I was born on May 3rd.)
  • Example: Der Abgabetermin ist am 15. September. (The submission deadline is on September 15th.)
  • The Weekend: Although das Wochenende is a neuter noun, it still uses am because an + dem applies to neuter dative as well. This is a very common expression.
  • Example: Was machst du am Wochenende? (What are you doing on the weekend?)
  • Example: Am Wochenende fahren wir ans Meer. (On the weekend, we're driving to the sea.)
  • Example: Ich entspanne mich gerne am Wochenende. (I like to relax on the weekend.)
The general principle for am is its association with a singular, identifiable unit of time. If you can conceive of the time reference as a "point" on a calendar or within a daily cycle, am is likely the correct choice.

When Not To Use It

While am is versatile for daily and dated temporal references, there are specific contexts where its use is grammatically incorrect or semantically inappropriate. Employing am outside its designated scope is a common error among learners, leading to misunderstandings. Avoid am in the following situations:
  • Clock Times (Uhrzeit): For precise clock times, German consistently uses the preposition um (meaning "around" or "at" a specific hour). am refers to larger temporal blocks like a day or a part of a day, not an exact hour.
  • Incorrect: Ich treffe dich am 10 Uhr. ✗
  • Correct: Ich treffe dich um 10 Uhr. ✓ (I'll meet you at 10 o'clock.)
  • Incorrect: Der Film beginnt am Mitternacht. ✗
  • Correct: Der Film beginnt um Mitternacht. ✓ (The film begins at midnight.)
  • Months (Monate): When referring to entire months, am is incorrect. The appropriate preposition is im, which is a contraction of in + dem. This signifies being "in" a period of time longer than a day.
  • Incorrect: Die Schule beginnt am September. ✗
  • Correct: Die Schule beginnt im September. ✓ (School starts in September.)
  • Incorrect: Ihr Geburtstag ist am April. ✗
  • Correct: Ihr Geburtstag ist im April. ✓ (Her birthday is in April.)
  • Seasons (Jahreszeiten): Similar to months, seasons are also treated with im (in + dem). They represent extended periods that am is not designed to specify.
  • Incorrect: Wir fahren am Sommer in den Urlaub. ✗
  • Correct: Wir fahren im Sommer in den Urlaub. ✓ (We go on holiday in the summer.)
  • Incorrect: Es regnet oft am Herbst. ✗
  • Correct: Es regnet oft im Herbst. ✓ (It often rains in autumn.)
  • Years (Jahre): For referring to specific years, am is never used. You typically use im (e.g., im Jahr 2024) or simply state the year without a preposition if the context is clear (e.g., 2024 war ein gutes Jahr).
  • Incorrect: Ich wurde am 1990 geboren. ✗
  • Correct: Ich wurde 1990 geboren. ✓ (I was born in 1990.)
  • Correct: Das Gebäude wurde im Jahr 1900 gebaut. ✓ (The building was built in the year 1900.)
  • The Night (die Nacht): This is a crucial exception to the "parts of the day" rule. Unlike Morgen, Vormittag, Mittag, Nachmittag, and Abend which are masculine and use am, die Nacht is feminine. Consequently, it takes the preposition in with the feminine dative article der, forming in der Nacht. This usage implies being "within" or "during" the night, rather than "at" a specific point.
  • Incorrect: Ich lese gerne am Nacht. ✗
  • Correct: Ich lese gerne in der Nacht. ✓ (I like to read at night.)
  • Incorrect: Die Sterne sind am Nacht sichtbar. ✗
  • Correct: Die Sterne sind in der Nacht sichtbar. ✓ (The stars are visible at night.)
Recognizing these distinctions is vital for accurate German temporal expressions. Always consider the duration or type of temporal unit you are referencing before choosing your preposition.

Common Mistakes

Learners frequently encounter specific pitfalls when applying am, often due to interference from their native language or an incomplete understanding of German case usage. Recognizing and consciously avoiding these errors will significantly refine your temporal expressions.
  • The "Midnight Mistake": The most persistent error is using am for die Nacht. As previously established, die Nacht is feminine, requiring in der Nacht. The other parts of the day are masculine and correctly use am. This singular exception often confuses learners expecting uniformity.
  • Incorrect: Der Zug fährt am Nacht ab. ✗
  • Correct: Der Zug fährt in der Nacht ab. ✓ (The train departs at night.)
  • The error arises from treating die Nacht identically to der Morgen, overlooking its gender and the semantic nuance of in.
  • Confusing am with um: This mistake occurs when attempting to specify clock times with am. Remember, am designates a day or part of a day, whereas um precisely marks an hour.
  • Incorrect: Ich habe einen Termin am 15 Uhr. ✗
  • Correct: Ich habe einen Termin um 15 Uhr. ✓ (I have an appointment at 3 PM.)
  • This is a clarity issue; using am with a clock time sounds grammatically disjointed and confusing to a native speaker.
  • Using am for Months or Seasons: Another frequent error is extending am to longer periods like months or seasons. These contexts require im (in + dem).
  • Incorrect: Mein Geburtstag ist am Juli. ✗
  • Correct: Mein Geburtstag ist im Juli. ✓ (My birthday is in July.)
  • The distinction lies in the duration; am for single days/parts of days, im for multi-day periods.
  • am Morgen vs. morgens: While both relate to the morning, they carry different implications.
  • am Morgen refers to a specific morning (e.g., am Montagmorgen – on Monday morning, or "this morning" in context).
  • morgens (with a lowercase 'm' and ending in '-s') is an adverb indicating habitual action, meaning "every morning."
  • Incorrect: Ich trinke Kaffee am morgens. ✗
  • Correct: Ich trinke Kaffee morgens. ✓ (I drink coffee every morning.)
  • Correct: Am Morgen war ich sehr müde. ✓ (This morning I was very tired.)
  • This error shows a lack of distinction between a specific temporal reference and a recurring habit.
  • Over-formal an dem: Although an dem is the uncontracted form, using it in casual or even standard formal conversation for simple time expressions is unnatural. It sounds stiff and academic.
  • Awkward: Ich komme an dem Freitag.
  • Natural: Ich komme am Freitag. (I'll come on Friday.)
  • The contraction am is the overwhelmingly preferred and expected form in contemporary German.
  • Ignoring Ordinal Numbers for Dates: When writing dates, omitting the period after the number (12.) is an oversight. The period signifies the ordinal nature of the number (e.g., der zwölfte – the twelfth).
  • Incorrect: am 12 Mai ✗
  • Correct: am 12. Mai ✓ (on May 12th)
Consciously internalizing these distinctions and practicing the correct forms will help you overcome these common learner hurdles.

Common Collocations

German, like any language, features certain phrases and expressions that frequently occur together, forming natural "chunks" of language. Understanding these common collocations, especially those involving am, can significantly improve the fluency and authenticity of your German.
  • am Wochenende: This is perhaps the most frequent temporal collocation with am, meaning "on the weekend." It is universally used.
  • Example: Wir fahren am Wochenende in die Berge. (We're going to the mountains on the weekend.)
  • am Feiertag: This phrase translates to "on the public holiday" or "on the bank holiday." der Feiertag is a masculine noun.
  • Example: Geschäfte sind am Feiertag geschlossen. (Shops are closed on the public holiday.)
  • am liebsten / am besten / am schönsten (Superlatives): While distinct from the temporal usage, am is also an integral part of forming the superlative degree of adjectives and adverbs in German. It combines with an adjective/adverb, often ending in -sten or -testen.
  • Example: Ich esse Pizza am liebsten. (I like to eat pizza the most / My favorite is pizza.)
  • Example: Er singt am besten von allen. (He sings the best of all.)
  • This highlights am's broader grammatical role beyond mere temporal indication, functioning as a marker for superlative constructions.
  • am Morgen / am Vormittag / am Mittag / am Nachmittag / am Abend: These are standard and frequent ways to refer to specific parts of a day.
  • Example: Treffen wir uns am Vormittag? (Shall we meet in the late morning?)
  • am ... Tag: You will often see am preceding a specific day modified by an adjective, like am nächsten Tag (on the next day) or am selben Tag (on the same day).
  • Example: Ich rufe dich am nächsten Tag an. (I'll call you the next day.)
By integrating these collocations into your active vocabulary, you not only ensure grammatical correctness but also adopt more natural speech patterns, characteristic of native German speakers.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

To solidify your understanding of am, it is beneficial to contrast its usage with other prepositions that also indicate time. This clarifies the specific domains of each and helps prevent common confusions.
| Preposition | Usage | Example | Translation |
| :---------- | :------------------------------------ | :---------------------------- | :--------------------------- |
| am | Days of the week, parts of day (excl. night), specific dates, weekend | am Montag, am Abend, am 5. Mai, am Wochenende | on Monday, in the evening, on May 5th, on the weekend |
| um | Exact clock times | um 8 Uhr, um Mitternacht | at 8 o'clock, at midnight |
| im | Months, seasons, years (contracted from in dem) | im Juli, im Sommer, im Jahr 2024 | in July, in summer, in the year 2024 |
| in der| The night (die Nacht) | in der Nacht | at night / during the night |
| zu | Certain holidays, meal times, or periods (less precise) | zu Weihnachten, zu Mittag essen | at Christmas, to have lunch |
Consider the following scenario to see these prepositions in action, building complexity from general to specific:
  • General time frame (Year): Im Jahr 2025 planen wir eine Reise. (In the year 2025, we are planning a trip.)
  • More specific (Month): Die Reise wird im August stattfinden. (The trip will take place in August.)
  • Even more specific (Day): Wir fliegen am 15. August ab. (We fly off on August 15th.)
  • Specific part of the day: Unser Flug geht am Morgen sehr früh. (Our flight departs very early in the morning.)
  • Exact time: Wir müssen um 5 Uhr am Flughafen sein. (We have to be at the airport at 5 o'clock.)
Each preposition serves a distinct function based on the granularity of the temporal information you wish to convey. am functions as your precise marker for daily and sub-daily segments, distinguishing it clearly from broader periods (im) and exact points (um).

Quick FAQ

Addressing common questions can help clarify remaining ambiguities regarding am.
  • Is it am Wochenende or an dem Wochenende?
  • Always use am Wochenende. While an dem Wochenende is grammatically derived, it sounds extremely archaic and unnatural in modern German. The contraction am is universally preferred and expected.
  • Why do we say am Morgen but morgens?
  • am Morgen refers to a specific morning (e.g., "this morning" or "on Monday morning"). It pinpoints an event to a single instance of morning. morgens (lowercase 'm', with an '-s' ending) is an adverb indicating a habitual action, meaning "every morning" or "in the mornings." For instance, Ich lese am Morgen die Zeitung (I read the newspaper this morning / on a specific morning) vs. Ich lese morgens die Zeitung (I read the newspaper every morning).
  • Can I use am for holidays like Christmas?
  • Yes, if you're referring to the specific day of the holiday. For example, am ersten Weihnachtstag (on Christmas Day/December 25th) or am Ostersonntag (on Easter Sunday). However, if you are referring to the general holiday period, you would typically use zu, such as zu Weihnachten (at Christmas time) or zu Ostern (at Easter time).
  • Is it am Mittag or zu Mittag?
  • am Mittag refers to the time of midday, e.g., Ich rufe dich am Mittag an. (I'll call you at midday.)
  • zu Mittag is typically part of the fixed expression zu Mittag essen, meaning "to have lunch." So, Wir essen zu Mittag um 12 Uhr. (We have lunch at 12 o'clock.) The choice depends on whether you're indicating a time point or the act of having lunch.
  • How do I specify a day within a month, like the 10th of May?
  • You use am followed by the day number, a period, and then the month: am 10. Mai. The period after the number indicates that it's an ordinal number (the tenth). You can also write it out: am zehnten Mai.

Time Preposition 'am'

Preposition Contraction Usage Example
an
dem
am
am Montag
an
dem
am
am Morgen
an
dem
am
am ersten Mai
an
dem
am
am Nachmittag
an
dem
am
am Samstag
an
dem
am
am Abend

Common Contractions

Full Form Contraction
an dem
am
in dem
im
zu dem
zum
bei dem
beim

Meanings

The preposition 'am' is used to indicate specific points in time, primarily days of the week and parts of the day.

1

Days of the week

Used before days to indicate when an event occurs.

“Ich arbeite am Montag.”

“Wir gehen am Samstag ins Kino.”

2

Parts of the day

Used for specific segments of the day (except night).

“Am Morgen trinke ich Kaffee.”

“Am Vormittag habe ich einen Termin.”

3

Dates

Used for calendar dates.

“Mein Geburtstag ist am zehnten März.”

“Das Konzert ist am ersten Juni.”

Reference Table

Reference table for German Time Preposition: On/At (am)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
am + Day
Ich komme am Montag.
Negative
am + Day + nicht
Ich komme am Montag nicht.
Question
Wann + am + Day?
Wann kommst du? Am Montag.
Date
am + Ordinal
Am ersten Mai.
Part of Day
am + Part
Am Morgen.
Exception
in der + Nacht
In der Nacht.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Wir treffen uns am Montag.

Wir treffen uns am Montag. (Meeting)

Neutral
Wir treffen uns am Montag.

Wir treffen uns am Montag. (Meeting)

Informal
Wir sehen uns am Montag.

Wir sehen uns am Montag. (Meeting)

Slang
Montag, oder?

Montag, oder? (Meeting)

When to use 'am'

am

Days

  • Montag Monday

Parts of Day

  • Morgen Morning

Dates

  • ersten Mai first of May

Am vs Im

Am (Days/Parts)
am Montag on Monday
Im (Months/Seasons)
im Mai in May
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Examples by Level

1

Ich arbeite am Montag.

I work on Monday.

2

Wir lernen am Morgen.

We study in the morning.

3

Das Konzert ist am Samstag.

The concert is on Saturday.

4

Am Nachmittag spiele ich.

In the afternoon I play.

1

Treffen wir uns am Freitag?

Shall we meet on Friday?

2

Mein Termin ist am zehnten Mai.

My appointment is on the 10th of May.

3

Am Abend sehe ich fern.

In the evening I watch TV.

4

Wir fahren am Sonntag weg.

We are leaving on Sunday.

1

Am Vormittag habe ich meistens viel zu tun.

In the morning I usually have a lot to do.

2

Die Konferenz findet am zwanzigsten Oktober statt.

The conference takes place on October 20th.

3

Können wir das am Mittwoch besprechen?

Can we discuss that on Wednesday?

4

Am Mittag essen wir zusammen.

At noon we eat together.

1

Am ersten Arbeitstag war ich sehr nervös.

On the first day of work I was very nervous.

2

Wir haben uns am letzten Samstag getroffen.

We met last Saturday.

3

Am frühen Morgen ist die Luft am besten.

Early in the morning the air is the best.

4

Die Deadline ist am nächsten Montag.

The deadline is next Monday.

1

Am darauffolgenden Tag war alles anders.

The following day everything was different.

2

Am Ende der Woche sind wir fertig.

At the end of the week we will be finished.

3

Am heutigen Tag feiern wir das Jubiläum.

Today we celebrate the anniversary.

4

Am helllichten Tag passierte der Einbruch.

In broad daylight the burglary happened.

1

Am Tage der Abreise herrschte große Aufregung.

On the day of departure there was great excitement.

2

Am Vorabend des Festes wurde alles vorbereitet.

On the eve of the festival everything was prepared.

3

Am besagten Datum war er nicht in der Stadt.

On the said date he was not in town.

4

Am laufenden Band kommen neue Ideen.

New ideas are coming constantly.

Easily Confused

German Time Preposition: On/At (am) vs Am vs Im

Both are contractions of 'dem'.

German Time Preposition: On/At (am) vs Am vs Um

Both are time prepositions.

German Time Preposition: On/At (am) vs Am vs In der

Both used for time.

Common Mistakes

✗

an Montag

✓

am Montag

Always use the contraction.
✗

in dem Montag

✓

am Montag

Wrong preposition.
✗

am Nacht

✓

in der Nacht

Night is feminine.
✗

am Mai

✓

im Mai

Months use 'im'.
✗

am 1. Mai

✓

am ersten Mai

Must use ordinal.
✗

am Vormittag

✓

am Vormittag

This is correct, but learners often forget it.
✗

am Montag um 10

✓

am Montag um 10

Correct, but watch for 'um'.
✗

am Sommer

✓

im Sommer

Seasons use 'im'.
✗

am 2023

✓

im Jahr 2023

Years use 'im'.
✗

am Wochenende

✓

am Wochenende

Correct, but often confused with 'im'.
✗

am heutigen Tag

✓

am heutigen Tag

Correct, but stylistically heavy.
✗

am Abendessen

✓

beim Abendessen

Event vs time.
✗

am Wochenende

✓

am Wochenende

Correct, but watch for regional 'an dem'.

Sentence Patterns

Ich arbeite ___ ___.

___ ___ trinke ich Kaffee.

Das Treffen ist ___ ___.

___ ___ habe ich frei.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Treffen wir uns am Samstag?

Job Interview very common

Ich kann am Montag anfangen.

Travel common

Der Zug fährt am Morgen.

Social Media common

Am Sonntag ist Party!

Food Delivery occasional

Lieferung am Abend.

Business Email very common

Wir sehen uns am Mittwoch.

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💡

Capitalization

Always capitalize days and parts of the day.
⚠️

Night Exception

Never use 'am' for night. Use 'in der Nacht'.
🎯

Contractions

Always use 'am' instead of 'an dem' in speech.
💬

Precision

Germans value punctuality; use 'am' to be specific.

Smart Tips

Always use 'am'.

Ich gehe an dem Montag. → Ich gehe am Montag.

Use 'am Morgen'.

Ich arbeite in dem Morgen. → Ich arbeite am Morgen.

Use 'am' + ordinal.

Das ist an dem 1. Mai. → Das ist am ersten Mai.

Use 'am Wochenende'.

Ich bin in dem Wochenende zu Hause. → Ich bin am Wochenende zu Hause.

Pronunciation

/am/

Contraction

The 'm' in 'am' is pronounced clearly.

Statement

Ich komme am Montag. ↘

Falling intonation for facts.

Question

Kommst du am Montag? ↗

Rising intonation for questions.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember: 'Am' is for the 'A' days (All days) and 'A' parts of the day (Abend, Afternoon).

Visual Association

Imagine a calendar where every day has an 'am' sticker on it. The sun is rising (Morgen) and setting (Abend), and both have 'am' written on them.

Rhyme

For days and parts, use 'am' with heart.

Story

On Monday (am Montag), I wake up in the morning (am Morgen). I have a meeting at noon (am Mittag). In the afternoon (am Nachmittag), I work hard. In the evening (am Abend), I relax.

Word Web

MontagDienstagMittwochDonnerstagFreitagSamstagSonntagMorgenAbend

Challenge

Write down your schedule for the next 7 days using 'am' for every entry.

Cultural Notes

Germans are very precise with time. 'Am' is used strictly.

Similar usage, but 'am' is often used in formal invitations.

Standard usage, very common in business.

Derived from Middle High German 'an dem'.

Conversation Starters

“

Wann hast du Zeit?

“

Ist das Konzert am Samstag?

“

Wann ist dein Geburtstag?

“

Können wir das am Montag besprechen?

Journal Prompts

Schreibe deinen Wochenplan.
Was machst du am Wochenende?
Beschreibe deinen typischen Tag.
Plane ein Treffen mit Freunden.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

Ich gehe ___ Montag ins Kino.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: am
Days use 'am'.
Choose the correct preposition. Multiple Choice

___ Abend lese ich ein Buch.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Am
Parts of the day use 'am'.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ich arbeite an dem Montag.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich arbeite am Montag.
Use the contraction 'am'.
Transform to negative. Sentence Transformation

Ich komme am Montag.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich komme am Montag nicht.
Negation follows the time.
Is this true? True False Rule

We use 'am' for months.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Months use 'im'.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Wann hast du Zeit? B: ___ Freitag.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Am
Days use 'am'.
Order the words. Sentence Building

am / Montag / ich / arbeite

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich arbeite am Montag.
Subject-Verb-Time order.
Match the time. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: am, im, um
Correct prepositions for time.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Ich gehe ___ Montag ins Kino.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: am
Days use 'am'.
Choose the correct preposition. Multiple Choice

___ Abend lese ich ein Buch.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Am
Parts of the day use 'am'.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ich arbeite an dem Montag.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich arbeite am Montag.
Use the contraction 'am'.
Transform to negative. Sentence Transformation

Ich komme am Montag.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich komme am Montag nicht.
Negation follows the time.
Is this true? True False Rule

We use 'am' for months.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Months use 'im'.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Wann hast du Zeit? B: ___ Freitag.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Am
Days use 'am'.
Order the words. Sentence Building

am / Montag / ich / arbeite

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich arbeite am Montag.
Subject-Verb-Time order.
Match the time. Match Pairs

Match: Montag, Mai, 8 Uhr

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: am, im, um
Correct prepositions for time.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank. Fill in the Blank

Wir sehen uns ___ Nachmittag.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: am
Translate to German. Translation

On the weekend.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: am Wochenende
Choose the correct date format. Multiple Choice

The party is on May 1st.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Die Party ist am 1. Mai.
Fix the mistake. Error Correction

Ich arbeite am Montag Morgen.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich arbeite am Montagmorgen.
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Reorder

am / Freitag / wir / gehen / Kino / ins

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Am Freitag gehen wir ins Kino.
Match the preposition to the category. Match Pairs

Match correctly:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: am - Montag
Fill in the blank. Fill in the Blank

___ 24. Dezember ist Weihnachten.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Am
Which is correct for 'in the evening'? Multiple Choice

Choose one:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: am Abend
Find the error. Error Correction

Ich fahre am Juli nach Berlin.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich fahre im Juli nach Berlin.
Translate: 'On Tuesday morning'. Translation

On Tuesday morning.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: am Dienstagmorgen

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Yes, but it sounds very formal or emphatic. Use 'am' for natural speech.

No, years use 'im' (e.g., 'im Jahr 2023').

Yes, 'am Wochenende' is the standard way to say 'on the weekend'.

It's an idiomatic exception. 'In der Nacht' is the standard form.

Yes, 'am' + ordinal number (e.g., 'am ersten').

No, seasons use 'im' (e.g., 'im Sommer').

No, use 'um' for clock time (e.g., 'um acht Uhr').

Only if it's the start of a sentence. The noun following it is always capitalized.

Scaffolded Practice

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Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

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In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

el + día

Spanish uses 'el', German uses 'am'.

French moderate

le + jour

French uses 'le', German uses 'am'.

English partial

on + day

German contracts the preposition.

Japanese low

ni + day

Japanese is agglutinative.

Arabic low

fi + day

Arabic is a Semitic language.

Chinese none

time + verb

Chinese has no prepositions like 'am'.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Telling Time: Quarter Hours (Viertel nach/vor)
Next
German Time Preposition: 'in' for Months & Seasons (im)

Related Videos

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The ultimate overview of German Prepositions! 14:43 YouTube

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