ab
from
Indicates the starting point of a movement or journey from a place.
EXAMPLE
Der Zug fährt ab Berlin ohne Umsteigen nach Hamburg.
The train travels from Berlin to Hamburg without changing trains.
ab
from / starting at
ab + dative
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Meanings
ab
from
Indicates the point in time, age, or limit from which something applies.
EXAMPLE
Kinder ab sechs Jahren dürfen den Film sehen.
Children aged six and over are allowed to watch the film.
ab
starting at
Indicates the minimum value from which a price, quantity, or other figure applies.
EXAMPLE
Die Eintrittskarten kosten ab zwanzig Euro.
Tickets cost from twenty euros.
ab und zu
occasionally
From time to time; occasionally.
EXAMPLE
Ich gehe ab und zu mit meinen Kollegen essen.
I occasionally go out to eat with my colleagues.
Usage tips
Dative after ab
'Ab' (from) is often followed by the dative, especially when an article or pronoun follows. With time expressions without an article, the form often remains unchanged.
EXAMPLE
Ab dem nächsten Bahnhof fährt der Zug direkt zum Flughafen.
From the next station, the train goes directly to the airport.
Travel information
In timetables and travel information, 'ab' (from) is often placed directly before the name of a place or station. This indicates the starting point of the connection.
EXAMPLE
Der Nachtzug ab München erreicht Wien früh am Morgen.
The night train from Munich reaches Vienna early in the morning.
Time boundary
For a point in time or an age, 'ab' (from) is often followed by a specific detail such as a date, time, or year. A noun with an article is in the dative.
EXAMPLE
Ab dem ersten September gilt der neue Fahrplan.
The new timetable applies from September 1.
Prices
In advertisements and sales offers, 'ab' (starting at) is often placed directly before an amount of money to indicate the lowest possible price. The amount is usually given with 'Euro' (euros).
EXAMPLE
Zimmer gibt es schon ab 75 Euro pro Nacht.
Rooms are available from just 75 euros per night.
Fixed expression
In 'ab und zu' (occasionally), 'ab' (from) is part of a fixed expression. The entire expression can usually appear in different positions in the sentence, for example at the beginning of the sentence or after the verb.
EXAMPLE
Ab und zu besucht sie ihre ehemaligen Nachbarn.
Occasionally, she visits her former neighbors.
In real life
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