01
bevorstehen
to be imminent
Indicates that an event or situation will occur in the near future. It is often used impersonally.
example
Den Schülern stehen die Abschlussprüfungen bevor.
The students' final exams are imminent.
bevorstehen
to be imminent
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word structure
The verb is made up of 'be-', 'vor' (in front of), and 'stehen' (to stand). You can picture it visually: an event 'stands before' you in time.
EXAMPLE
Uns steht eine lange Reise bevor.
A long journey lies ahead of us.
Inseparable verb
The prefix 'be-' is inseparable. This means that 'bevor' is never separated from the verb stem 'stehen', even in a main clause.
EXAMPLE
Eine wichtige Entscheidung bevorsteht dem Management.
An important decision is imminent for the management.
Sentence structure with dative
The person or group affected by the event is in the dative. The upcoming event itself is the subject in the nominative.
EXAMPLE
Dem Team steht ein schwieriges Spiel bevor.
A difficult game is imminent for the team.
Register
This verb belongs more to formal or written language. It is often found in news reports, reports, or official announcements.
EXAMPLE
Der Firma stehen große Veränderungen bevor.
Major changes are imminent for the company.
Compare with
bevorstehen vs Tür
door
'vor der Tür stehen' (to be just around the corner) and 'bevorstehen' both express that an event will happen soon. 'bevorstehen' is a normal verb and fits well in factual sentences, for example with appointments, exams, or changes. 'vor der Tür stehen' is a figurative idiom and often sounds a bit more vivid and conversational. In terms of meaning, they are very similar here: if an exam bevorsteht, you can also say that it vor der Tür steht.
bevorstehen
In der Schule spricht meine Freundin darüber, dass bald eine wichtige Prüfung bevorsteht.
At school, my friend talks about the fact that an important exam is coming up soon.
Tür
Am Wochenende steht das Stadtfest vor der Tür.
The town festival is just around the corner this weekend.
In real life
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