Reading · A2 · Text 19
Herbst
Für die Astronomen jedoch beginnt der Herbst zur Tag-und-Nacht-Gleiche, wenn die Tage und Nächte also gleich lang sind.
For astronomers, however, autumn begins at the equinox, when days and nights are of equal length.
Das ist immer am 21. oder 22. September.
This is always on September 21 or 22.
Der Herbst endet bei der Wintersonnenwende, wenn die Tage am kürzesten sind.
Autumn ends at the winter solstice, when the days are shortest.
Das ist am 20. oder 21. Dezember, und damit beginnt dann der Winter.
This is on December 20 or 21, and then winter begins.
6 words above A2
Grammar in this text
Temporal clauses with wenn (verb-final)
wenn die Tage und Nächte also gleich lang sind
wenn introduces a subordinate clause that expresses a condition or time. The conjugated verb moves to the end of the clause.
Inversion after fronted prepositional phrase
Für die Astronomen jedoch beginnt der Herbst
When an adverb or prepositional phrase is placed at the beginning of a main clause, the finite verb comes before the subject.
Preposition-article contractions (am, zur)
am 21. oder 22. September
Prepositions like an and zu combine with the definite article (dem/der) to form am and zur. These are common in dates and times.
Superlative with am
wenn die Tage am kürzesten sind
The superlative can be used as a predicate with am + adverb form, meaning 'the shortest'.
Keep going
Text from Herbst — Klexikon, used under CC BY-SA 4.0. See sources.
Translation, glossary and grammar notes are machine-generated and inherit the same licence.