bisher
so far
Expresses that something has been the case or has applied up to the present point in time.
EXAMPLE
Bisher hatten wir immer Glück mit dem Wetter im Urlaub.
So far, we've always had good luck with the weather on vacation.
bisher
so far
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word structure
'Bisher' (so far) can be broken down into 'bis' (until) and 'her' (to here). It literally means 'up to this point in time.' This derivation helps you remember the meaning.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe bisher nichts von ihm gehört.
I haven't heard anything from him so far.
Word order
As an adverb, 'bisher' (so far) can stand in different positions in the sentence. If it stands at the beginning (position 1), the verb follows directly. If it stands within the sentence, the word order does not change.
EXAMPLE
Bisher war der Service immer gut.
So far, the service has always been good.
Implicit contrast
'Bisher' (so far) often suggests that a situation has changed or could soon change. It creates a contrast between the past and the present or future.
EXAMPLE
Bisher hat alles funktioniert. (Implikation: Aber jetzt gibt es ein Problem.)
So far, everything has worked. (Implication: But now there is a problem.)
Compare with
bisher vs soweit
as far as / so far
Bisher and soweit can refer to how something has progressed so far. Bisher only marks the time up to now, while soweit assesses the current state or progress reached. Use “bisher” for a statement about time and “soweit” especially when assessing the current state.
bisher
Bisher hat das Projekt ohne größere Probleme funktioniert.
So far, the project has functioned without any major problems.
soweit
Soweit läuft das Projekt ohne größere Probleme.
So far, the project is running without any major problems.
In real life
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