die Gegenwart
present
The current time; the present point or period of time between the past and the future.
EXAMPLE
Wir sollten uns auf die Probleme der Gegenwart konzentrieren.
We should focus on the problems of the present.
die Gegenwart
present / presence
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Meanings
in jemandes Gegenwart
in someone's presence
The presence of one or more people in a place.
EXAMPLE
Bitte sprich in Gegenwart der Kinder nicht über dieses Thema.
Please don't talk about this topic in the presence of the children.
die Gegenwart
present tense
The grammatical tense that expresses a current action or event (present tense).
EXAMPLE
Der Satz „Ich gehe einkaufen“ steht in der Gegenwart.
The sentence 'I am going shopping' is in the present tense.
Usage tips
Context clues
The meaning of 'Gegenwart' (present/presence) becomes clear from context. If it is about time (past, future), it is m01. If it is about a person's presence, it is m02. If it is about grammar, it is m03.
EXAMPLE
In seiner Gegenwart fühle ich mich immer wohl.
I always feel comfortable in his presence.
Sentence structure: presence
To express 'Anwesenheit' (presence), 'Gegenwart' almost always appears with the preposition 'in' and a genitive or a 'von' construction. The most common form is 'in meiner/deiner/seiner... Gegenwart' (in my/your/his... presence).
EXAMPLE
In Gegenwart seiner Chefin ist er immer sehr nervös.
In the presence of his boss, he is always very nervous.
Grammatical term
In a linguistic context, 'die Gegenwart' (the present tense) is the technical term for the tense Präsens. You often find this word in German textbooks.
EXAMPLE
Lass uns die Verben in der Gegenwart üben.
Let's practice the verbs in the present tense.
Compare with
Gegenwart vs Augenblick
moment
Der Augenblick usually refers to the immediate here and now and can suggest a very short period. Die Gegenwart refers to the broader present time between the past and the future. „Im Augenblick“ often fits a situation that is happening right now, while „in der Gegenwart“ is used for the present time in general.
Gegenwart
In der Gegenwart verändern digitale Medien unseren Alltag.
In the present, digital media are changing our everyday lives.
Augenblick
Im Augenblick kann ich nicht telefonieren, weil ich gerade im Unterricht bin.
I can't talk on the phone at the moment because I'm in class.
In real life
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