grad
just
A colloquial shortened form of „gerade“ (just) in the sense of „soeben“ (just now) or „vor kurzer Zeit“ (a short time ago).
EXAMPLE
Sie ist grad nach Hause gekommen.
She’s just come home.
grad
just
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
grad
right now
A colloquial shortened form of „gerade“ (right now) in the sense of „jetzt“ (now) or „im Moment“ (at the moment).
EXAMPLE
Ich kann grad nicht telefonieren.
I can’t talk on the phone right now.
grad
exactly / of all things
A colloquial shortened form of „gerade“ (exactly) in the sense of „genau“ (exactly) or „ausgerechnet“ (of all things).
EXAMPLE
Das ist grad der Punkt, den ich erklären wollte.
That’s exactly the point I wanted to explain.
grad noch
just barely
Indicates that something is achieved only narrowly or at the last possible moment.
EXAMPLE
Wir haben den Zug grad noch erwischt.
We just managed to catch the train.
grad mal
just
Indicates a small amount, a short period of time, or a limited action and often means „nur“ (only) or „lediglich“ (merely).
EXAMPLE
Ich habe grad mal fünf Minuten Zeit.
I’ve only got five minutes.
Usage tips
Written usage
„grad“ (just) also works in personal messages and casual written conversations. You should avoid this shortened form in formal letters or academic texts.
EXAMPLE
Bin grad unterwegs und melde mich später!
I’m out and about right now and will get back to you later!
Time context
The tense and the context help you recognize the temporal meaning: With a completed event in the perfect tense, „grad“ (just) often refers to the immediate past. With an ongoing activity in the present tense, it usually refers to the current moment.
EXAMPLE
Der Bus ist grad abgefahren.
The bus has just left.
Ich sitze grad im Bus.
I’m on the bus right now.
Ongoing activity
A common pattern is „grad dabei sein, etwas zu tun“ (to be in the middle of doing something). It emphasizes that an activity is happening at the moment; the activity is expressed with the infinitive using „zu“ (to).
EXAMPLE
Ich bin grad dabei, das Abendessen vorzubereiten.
I’m in the middle of preparing dinner.
Focused emphasis
In this usage, „grad“ (exactly) often appears directly before the part of the sentence you especially want to emphasize. In questions and exclamations, it can express surprise or annoyance.
EXAMPLE
Warum muss das grad heute passieren?
Why does this have to happen today of all days?
Typical collocations
Common expressions include „grad noch schaffen“ (to just manage something), „grad noch rechtzeitig kommen“ (to arrive just in time), and „grad noch verhindern können“ (to just manage to prevent something). They are used in situations involving time pressure or an impending danger.
EXAMPLE
Die Fahrerin konnte den Zusammenstoß grad noch verhindern.
The driver just managed to prevent the collision.
Evaluating quantities
Before a number or quantity, „grad mal“ (just) shows that you consider the amount small. Whether it is actually small depends on the context and your expectations.
EXAMPLE
Für die ganze Arbeit hat er grad mal zehn Euro bekommen.
He got just ten euros for the entire job.
In real life
Loading video examples...