This key facts covers Key rules at a glance within Numbers, dates and times by ear for GCSE German. Revise Numbers, dates and times by ear in Listening Traps for GCSE German with 10 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 3 of 4 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
📌 Key rules at a glance
- Units before tens: einundzwanzig = 21 — you hear the small number first, then und, then the ten.
- -zehn = teen (13); -zig / -ßig = round ten (30): dreizehn vs dreißig.
- halb vier = 3:30 (half to four — NOT half past four).
- Viertel nach = quarter past; Viertel vor = quarter to.
- am Montag, im Mai, der erste Mai — prepositions for days, months and dates.
Practice questions for Numbers, dates and times by ear
You hear 'einundzwanzig'. What number is this?
Which German word means 30?
Quick recall flashcards
um ... Uhr
'um drei Uhr' = at three o'clock. 'um halb sieben' = at half past six (6:30). 'Uhr' signals a clock time. 'um' = at (for times). Note: 'Uhr' is die Uhr, die Uhren — the clock/watch, but also used for 'o'clock'.
hundert / tausend
hundert = 100 | tausend = 1,000. 'zweihundert' = 200. 'dreitausend' = 3,000. These combine directly without 'und' before them: 'dreitausendvierhundertfünfzig' = 3,450. Large numbers are one long compound word.