German numbers follow a logical LEGO system: basic bricks (1-20), connecting pieces (units + und + tens), and special endings for dates (-te for 1-19, -ste for 20+). Time uses formal (24-hour) and informal (conversational) systems.
1Story in Action
Einen Termin vereinbaren
Arzthelferin: Praxis Dr. Baumann, guten Tag. Was kann ich für Sie tun?
Dr. Baumann's practice, good day. What can I do for you?
Patient: Guten Tag. Ich hätte gern einen Termin am dreizehnten März.
Good day. I would like to have an appointment on the thirteenth of March.
Dates (Datum)
To name a specific date, use the preposition 'am'. The number becomes an 'ordinal number' by adding a '-ten' ending (for numbers 2-19) or a '-sten' ending (for numbers 20+).
Preposition 'am' + Number + '-ten'/'sten' + Month.
Arzthelferin: Gerne. Um wie viel Uhr passt es Ihnen denn?
Of course. At what time would suit you?
Time (Uhrzeit)
To ask for or state a specific time, always use the preposition 'um'.
'Am' is for dates, 'um' is for times.
Patient: Hätten Sie etwas gegen halb zehn am Vormittag?
Would you have something around half past nine in the morning?
Colloquial Time
This is the common way to tell time. 'Halb' always refers to the next full hour. So, 'halb zehn' (half ten) means 'halfway to 10 o'clock', which is 9:30.
Halb + [Hour] = 30 minutes before that hour (e.g., halb drei = 2:30).
Arzthelferin: Leider nicht. Aber ich habe einen freien Termin um Viertel nach zehn.
Unfortunately not. But I have a free appointment at a quarter past ten.
Colloquial Time
'Viertel' (quarter) is used with 'nach' (after/past) or 'vor' (before/to).
'Viertel nach zehn' = 10:15. 'Viertel vor zehn' = 9:45.
Patient: Zehn Uhr fünfzehn ist perfekt. Was kostet die Untersuchung?
Ten fifteen is perfect. What does the examination cost?
Official Time
This is the official or digital way to state the time, often used for schedules. You simply say the hour, the word 'Uhr', and then the minutes.
[Hour] + 'Uhr' + [Minutes].
Arzthelferin: Die Kosten betragen fünfundvierzig Euro. Und bringen Sie bitte Ihre Versichertenkarte mit.
The cost is forty-five euros. And please bring your insurance card with you.
Cardinal Numbers (Grundzahlen)
For numbers from 21-99, German uses a 'backwards' structure. You say the unit number first, then 'und' (and), then the tens number.
[Unit] + 'und' + [Tens]. (e.g., 45 = fünf-und-vierzig; 21 = ein-und-zwanzig).
2Why This Matters
Essential for appointments, shopping, and telling the time. Think of numbers like LEGO blocks: basic numbers are simple bricks, 'und' connects them for bigger numbers, and special endings (-te, -sten) transform them into date blocks. Mastering this system is crucial for practical daily communication in German.
3The LEGO Number System
Think of numbers like LEGO blocks. Basic numbers (1-20) are simple bricks. For bigger numbers, use 'und' as the connecting piece. Special endings (-te, -sten) transform number bricks into date bricks.
Basic Bricks: Numbers 1-20 are the foundation blocks you memorize
Connecting Piece: 'und' connects units to tens for numbers 21-99
Special Endings: Add -te (1-19) or -ste (20+) to make ordinal numbers for dates
Building Logic: Once you know the system, you can build any number
Memory_trick: LEGO = build bigger from smaller pieces using connecting rules
| Example | English | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
4Cardinal Numbers - The Building Blocks
For numbers 21-99, use the reverse order: units BEFORE tens, connected with 'und'. This is opposite to English: 34 = vier-und-dreißig (four-and-thirty).
Reverse Order: German says units first, then tens (opposite of English)
Und Connection: 'und' always connects units and tens
No Spaces: Write compound numbers as one word
Consistent: This pattern works for all numbers 21-99
Memory_trick: German = backwards from English (units first, tens second)
| Example | English | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| drei (3) + und + zwanzig (20) | ||
| sechs (6) + und + vierzig (40) | ||
| neun (9) + und + neunzig (90) |
5Prices and Measurements - Practical Applications
For prices and measurements, state the main unit first, then the smaller parts. Use 'Komma' (comma) for decimal points, or break down into component parts.
Main First: Always state the larger unit before smaller parts
Komma Decimal: German uses comma for decimal point (not period)
Component Breakdown: Can break decimals into separate units for clarity
Euros Cents: Euros first, then cents (optional 'und' between)
Memory_trick: Big to small: euros before cents, kilos before grams
6Ordinal Numbers - Date Building Blocks
Transform cardinal numbers into ordinals for dates: add -te for 1-19, add -ste for 20+. Watch for irregulars: erste (1st), dritte (3rd), siebte (7th).
Te Ending: Numbers 1-19 get -te ending (vier → vierte)
Ste Ending: Numbers 20+ get -ste ending (zwanzig → zwanzigste)
Irregulars: erste (1st), dritte (3rd), siebte (7th) are special forms
Date Usage: Essential for expressing dates and order
Memory_trick: 1-19 = -te, 20+ = -ste, plus three irregulars
7Dates with AM - The Special Ending System
When using 'am' (on + the date), add -n to ordinal endings: -te becomes -ten, -ste becomes -sten. This follows German dative case rules.
Am Preposition: 'am' = an + dem (on the + date in dative case)
N Ending: Dative case adds -n to ordinal adjective endings
Te To Ten: -te endings become -ten after 'am'
Ste To Sten: -ste endings become -sten after 'am'
Memory_trick: am = add n (dative case marker)
| Example | English | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Die Prüfung ist am siebten April. | The exam is on the seventh of April. | The preposition am (Dative) requires the Weak Declension ending -en (siebten). (1st-19th rule)The cardinal number sieben changes to the ordinal siebt-. |
| Das Konzert ist am dreißigsten Oktober. | The concert is on the thirtieth of October. | The preposition am (Dative) requires the Weak Declension ending -en (dreißigsten). (20th+ rule)The cardinal number dreißig changes to the ordinal dreißigst-. |
| Ich habe am ersten Mai Geburtstag. | My birthday is on the first of May. | The preposition am (Dative) requires the Weak Declension ending -en (ersten). (Irregular rule)The cardinal number eins changes irregularly to erst-. |
8Formal Time - The 24-Hour System
Formal time is simple: [Hour] + Uhr + [Minutes]. Use this for schedules, appointments, and official times. Just say the numbers as you see them.
Structure: Hour + Uhr + Minutes (exactly as written)
Official Use: Train schedules, appointments, TV programs, formal contexts
24hour Clock: Uses 24-hour system (13:00 = dreizehn Uhr)
No Shortcuts: No special expressions, just read the numbers
Memory_trick: Formal = simple, just read the numbers + Uhr
| Example | English | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| train departure time | ||
| appointment time | ||
| TV program start | ||
| work start time |
9Informal Time - Conversational Expressions
Informal time uses special expressions: Viertel nach (quarter past), halb (half TO the next hour), Viertel vor (quarter to). Key: 'halb' means halfway TO the next hour.
Viertel Nach: Viertel nach = quarter past the hour (:15)
Halb Special: halb = half TO the NEXT hour (:30) - very important!
Viertel Vor: Viertel vor = quarter to the next hour (:45)
12hour Base: Uses 12-hour thinking (even for afternoon times)
Memory_trick: halb = halfway to NEXT hour (not current hour)
10Practice Exercises
Heute ist der ___ (23.) Mai.
75 graded exercises on Numbers, Time & Dates, with the mistake explained every time you get one wrong.
10 more A2 grammar topics — see them all