German Grammar Explained /
Prepositions: AM UM IM
Some prepositions are used to mark place or direction within sentences. Questions containing the following question words
wo?
wohin?
will be followed by the dative or accusative cases, respectively. But not all prepositions are that high-maintenance. :)
This topic is about prepositions used to talk about times during which or at which certain things might have taken or take place. We advise you to learn them in context and not to worry about the grammar. These prepositions are am, um and im. They are used as follows.
To indicate days of the week and times of the day:
AM
am Montag
am Dienstag
am Vormittag
am Nachmittag
am Morgen
but: in der Nacht
To talk about seasons:
IM
im Frühling
im Sommer
im Winter
im Herbst
To talk about a precise time:
UM
um 19 Uhr
um 12 Uhr
um 8 Uhr
um Mitternacht
It is often the case that prepositions can't be literally translated into every language.
To make it easier for you to remember them, try to learn prepositions in combination with phrases like the ones above and avoid looking up their translations isolated from context.
Grammar-Spaß
If you insist on knowing the grammar behind the words, here are a few fun facts:
1. Prepositions of time are used to answer the questions "when" or "for how long".
2. Unlike prepositions of place, they don't change the case. Each preposition of time is followed by one case only.
For example, an and in (time) are always followed by the dative.
an + dem = am
in + dem = im