This introduction covers ⏰ Zeitwörter — The Words That Set the Time within Time markers: spotting past, present and future for GCSE German. Revise Time markers: spotting past, present and future in Time Markers and the Three Time Frames 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 1 of 4 in this topic. Use this introduction to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
⏰ Zeitwörter — The Words That Set the Time
In the German writing exam you score marks by showing you can handle three time frames — past, present and future. The secret is the time marker: one little word (gestern, heute, morgen) tells you and the examiner which time frame you are in. Spot the marker and you already know the tense before you have parsed a single verb.
Practice questions for Time markers: spotting past, present and future
Which German time marker signals the PAST?
Which German time expression signals the FUTURE?
Quick recall flashcards
oft
often -- frequency adverb, usually with the present tense. Ich spiele oft Fußball.
heute
today -- PRESENT marker. Signals the present tense: Heute spiele ich Tennis.