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B2–C1 · GFA · 20 patterns

Time and aspect

Compare how English and German express time and aspect. Practise reusable constructions with Russian translations.

01 · How to use this set

Start from the communication job

Compare how English and German express time and aspect. Practise reusable constructions with Russian translations.

Read the frame, try to complete your own sentence before opening an example, then compare the English structure with its German parallel. The point is retrieval and choice, not passive list reading.

02 · Representative patterns

Start with these reusable frames

A compact sample from the 20 patterns in this study set.

01This is the first time + subject + have/has + past participleThis is the first time I have chaired a meeting. · German parallel: Das ist das erste Mal, dass + subject + ... + verb02It was the first time + subject + had + past participleIt was the first time I had spoken on stage. · German parallel: Es war das erste Mal, dass + subject + ... + past verb03Subject + had been + -ing + for a duration + when + past simpleI had been waiting for an hour when she called. · German parallel: Subject + past verb + schon seit + duration, als + past clause04By the time + subject + present simple, subject + will have + past participleBy the time you arrive, I will have finished cooking. · German parallel: Bis + future-time clause, subject + haben/sein + ... + participle05By + future date, subject + will have been + -ing + for + durationBy June, I will have been working here for five years. · German parallel: Future date + verb + subject + schon seit + duration06Subject + was/were about to + infinitive + when + past clauseI was about to leave when the phone rang. · German parallel: Subject + wollte gerade + infinitive, als + past clause

03 · Complete set

Browse every pattern

The canonical list follows below. Every pattern has a stable ID and its own page for examples, translation, and reuse.

01This is the first time + subject + have/has + past participleGFA001 · This is the first time + subject + have/has + past participle / Das ist das erste Mal, dass + subject + ... + verb02It was the first time + subject + had + past participleGFA002 · It was the first time + subject + had + past participle / Es war das erste Mal, dass + subject + ... + past verb03Subject + had been + -ing + for a duration + when + past simpleGFA003 · Subject + had been + -ing + for a duration + when + past simple / Subject + past verb + schon seit + duration, als + past clause04By the time + subject + present simple, subject + will have + past participleGFA004 · By the time + subject + present simple, subject + will have + past participle / Bis + future-time clause, subject + haben/sein + ... + participle05By + future date, subject + will have been + -ing + for + durationGFA005 · By + future date, subject + will have been + -ing + for + duration / Future date + verb + subject + schon seit + duration06Subject + was/were about to + infinitive + when + past clauseGFA006 · Subject + was/were about to + infinitive + when + past clause / Subject + wollte gerade + infinitive, als + past clause07Subject + had been going to + infinitive, but + past clauseGFA007 · Subject + had been going to + infinitive, but + past clause / Subject + hatte(n) vor, zu + infinitive, aber + past clause08Subject + was/were to + infinitive + later-time expressionGFA008 · Subject + was/were to + infinitive + later-time expression / Subject + sollte(n) + ... + infinitive09Subject + was/were to have + past participle, but + past clauseGFA009 · Subject + was/were to have + past participle, but + past clause / Subject + sollte(n) eigentlich + infinitive, aber + past clause10Subject + have/has yet to + infinitiveGFA010 · Subject + have/has yet to + infinitive / Subject + haben + ... + noch nicht + past participle11It has been + duration + since + subject + last + past verbGFA011 · It has been + duration + since + subject + last + past verb / Es ist + duration + her, dass + subject + zuletzt + past clause12Subject + have/has not + past participle + since + past clauseGFA012 · Subject + have/has not + past participle + since + past clause / Subject + haben + ... + nicht mehr + participle, seitdem + past clause13Subject + will + infinitive + as soon as + subject + have/has + past participleGFA013 · Subject + will + infinitive + as soon as + subject + have/has + past participle / Main clause + sobald + subject + ... + participle + haben/sein14It will not be long before + subject + present simpleGFA014 · It will not be long before + subject + present simple / Es dauert nicht mehr lange, bis + subject + ... + verb15Subject + had not + perception participle + embedded clause + until + past clauseGFA015 · Subject + had not + perception participle + embedded clause + until + past clause / Subject + past verb + erst, als + past clause16Subject + am/is/are always + -ingGFA016 · Subject + am/is/are always + -ing / Subject + verb + ständig + rest of clause17I was wondering whether + subject + could + infinitiveGFA017 · I was wondering whether + subject + could + infinitive / Ich wollte fragen, ob + subject + ... + infinitive + könnte(n)18Subject + will be + -ing + future time, so + consequenceGFA018 · Subject + will be + -ing + future time, so + consequence / Expected future clause, also + consequence with modal19Subject + had already + past participle + by the time + past clauseGFA019 · Subject + had already + past participle + by the time + past clause / Subject + hatte(n)/war(en) schon + participle, als + past clause20Every time + subject + have/has + participle, subject + have/has + participleGFA020 · Every time + subject + have/has + participle, subject + have/has + participle / Jedes Mal, wenn + Perfekt clause, + Perfekt main clause