alle
all
Refers to an entire group or collection of people or things, without having to repeat a noun.
EXAMPLE
Alle sind schon nach Hause gegangen.
Everyone has already gone home.
alle
all
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Meanings
alle
every
Used in expressions of time to indicate a regular repetition after a certain interval.
EXAMPLE
Der Bus fährt alle zehn Minuten ab.
The bus leaves every ten minutes.
alle Welt
everyone
Colloquially refers to all people or a very large number of people.
EXAMPLE
Alle Welt spricht heute über diesen Film.
Everyone is talking about this film today.
alle naselang
every few minutes
Colloquially indicates that something happens very often or at short intervals.
EXAMPLE
Er ruft alle naselang an.
He calls every few minutes.
alle Jubeljahre
once in a blue moon
Colloquially indicates that something happens very rarely.
EXAMPLE
Sie besucht uns nur alle Jubeljahre.
She visits us only once in a blue moon.
alle
all
Used together with a plural noun to refer to the entire group of people or things mentioned.
EXAMPLE
Alle Kinder spielen im Garten.
All the children are playing in the garden.
Usage tips
Sentence structure and verb
When 'alle' (all/everyone) stands alone as the subject, it is normally followed by a plural verb. 'Alle' can refer to people or things.
EXAMPLE
Alle haben die Einladung rechtzeitig erhalten.
Everyone received the invitation on time.
Numbers
Before a number, 'alle' (all) can specify the complete group more precisely. The pattern is 'alle' + number, for example when referring to people or objects.
EXAMPLE
Alle vier haben die Prüfung bestanden.
All four passed the exam.
Time intervals
For regular time intervals, 'alle' (every) comes before a time expression, usually in the plural. This describes recurring events or processes.
EXAMPLE
Die Tabletten musst du alle acht Stunden nehmen.
You have to take the tablets every eight hours.
Fixed expression
In 'alle Welt' (everyone), 'Welt' (world) is grammatically singular, so the verb is also singular. The expression is mainly colloquial and refers to a very large number of people.
EXAMPLE
Alle Welt kennt inzwischen dieses Lied.
Everyone knows this song by now.
Idiom
'Alle naselang' (every few minutes) is used as a fixed adverbial expression and often appears with verbs for repeated contact or events. The expression is colloquial.
EXAMPLE
Er schreibt mir alle naselang eine lange Nachricht.
He sends me a long message every few minutes.
Rare repetition
'Alle Jubeljahre' (once in a blue moon) is a fixed colloquial expression. It usually appears before or after the verb and describes something that happens only very rarely.
EXAMPLE
So viel Schnee fällt hier nur alle Jubeljahre.
We get this much snow here only once in a blue moon.
In real life
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