A2 Danish GrammarTemporal Prepositions
Express time precisely in Danish with temporal prepositions: siden (since), i (for duration), til (until), under (during), før (before), efter (after). Learn the difference between point-in-time and duration expressions, and master scheduling vocabulary.
1Duration: 'i' and 'på'
'I' (for) expresses how long something lasts or has lasted. It's used with time periods: i to timer (for two hours), i mange år (for many years). 'På' can express how quickly something was done: på fem minutter (in five minutes). These show duration vs completion time.
Duration Expressions
| Preposition | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| i | duration (how long) | i tre dage (for three days) |
| i | period in past | i sidste uge (last week) |
| på | completion time | på ti minutter (in 10 min) |
| på | within timeframe | på en uge (within a week) |
Examples
Jeg har boet her i fem år.
I have lived here for five years.
'i' for duration with present perfect
Hun læste bogen på to dage.
She read the book in two days.
'på' = how fast it was done
Vi ventede i en time.
We waited for an hour.
'i' for past duration
Kan du gøre det på fem minutter?
Can you do it in five minutes?
'på' = within the time
2Starting Points: 'siden' and 'fra'
'Siden' (since) marks the starting point of an ongoing action. It's used with the present perfect: Jeg har arbejdet her siden 2020. 'Fra' (from) indicates a future starting point or the beginning of a time range: fra mandag (from Monday), fra nu af (from now on).
'Siden' and 'Fra'
| Preposition | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| siden | since (point in past) | siden i går |
| siden | since (event) | siden jeg kom |
| fra | from (starting point) | fra klokken ni |
| fra...til | from...to (range) | fra mandag til fredag |
Examples
Jeg har kendt ham siden barndommen.
I have known him since childhood.
'siden' with present perfect
Siden hun flyttede, har vi ikke set hende.
Since she moved, we haven't seen her.
'siden' with past event
Butikken er åben fra ni til fem.
The store is open from nine to five.
'fra...til' for time range
Fra nu af skal jeg træne mere.
From now on, I will exercise more.
'fra nu af' = from now on
3End Points: 'til' and 'indtil'
'Til' (to/until) marks the end point of a time period: til fredag (until Friday). 'Indtil' is more emphatic and means 'up until'. Both can be used similarly, but 'indtil' emphasizes the continuous duration up to that point.
End Point Expressions
| Preposition | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| til | until/to | til klokken tre |
| til | for (deadline) | til mandag |
| indtil | up until | indtil videre |
| indtil | until (emphatic) | indtil i dag |
Examples
Jeg arbejder til klokken fem.
I work until five o'clock.
'til' for daily endpoint
Rapporten skal være klar til fredag.
The report must be ready by Friday.
'til' for deadline
Indtil videre går det godt.
So far, it's going well.
'indtil videre' = so far/for now
Hun blev indtil midnat.
She stayed until midnight.
'indtil' emphasizes the wait
4Sequential: 'før', 'efter', 'under'
'Før' (before) and 'efter' (after) establish sequence in time. 'Under' (during) indicates something happening within a time period. These are essential for storytelling and describing events in relation to each other.
Sequential Prepositions
| Preposition | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| før | before | før klokken ti |
| efter | after | efter frokost |
| under | during | under mødet |
| inden | before (within) | inden mandag |
Examples
Ring til mig før klokken otte.
Call me before eight o'clock.
'før' for time before
Vi taler efter middagen.
We'll talk after dinner.
'efter' for time after
Under krigen boede de i Sverige.
During the war, they lived in Sweden.
'under' = during (historical)
Jeg skal gøre det færdigt inden fredag.
I must finish it before Friday.
'inden' = before (deadline-like)