eine Zeitlang
for a while
An indefinite, usually shorter period of time. It describes a certain duration without defining it precisely.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe eine Zeitlang in Berlin gewohnt.
I lived in Berlin for a while.
die Zeitlang
while
die Zeitlang
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Meanings
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Zeitlang, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance (die)
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| genitive | der Zeitlang |
The four cases (die)
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Zeitlang | – |
| accusative | die Zeitlang | – |
| dative | der Zeitlang | – |
| genitive | der Zeitlang | – |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
At a glance (die)
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| genitive | der Zeitlang |
The four cases (die)
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Zeitlang | – |
| accusative | die Zeitlang | – |
| dative | der Zeitlang | – |
| genitive | der Zeitlang | – |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Word composition
The word is made up of 'Zeit' (time) and 'lang' (long). So literally it describes a 'long time', but it is used for an indefinite period of time.
EXAMPLE
Das hat eine ganze Zeitlang gedauert.
That took quite a while.
Fixed expression
This noun is used almost exclusively in the form 'eine Zeitlang' (for a while) as an adverbial expression of time. It answers the question 'Wie lange?' (How long?). Other forms are extremely rare.
EXAMPLE
Er hat eine Zeitlang als Lehrer gearbeitet, bevor er Schriftsteller wurde.
He worked as a teacher for a while before he became a writer.
Sentence position
The expression 'eine Zeitlang' (for a while) can stand at the beginning of the sentence (position 1) or in the middle field. If it stands at the beginning, the verb follows directly after it.
EXAMPLE
Eine Zeitlang war alles in Ordnung.
For a while, everything was all right.
In real life
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