When discussing deadlines in German, days of the week are often combined with words like "bis" (by), "ab" (starting from), and "vor" (before). These small words are crucial for correctly understanding timeframes in work, school, or daily life.
If something is due by a certain day, Germans use "bis":
"Die Hausaufgaben müssen bis Montag abgegeben werden." → The homework must be submitted by Monday.
"Ich brauche den Bericht bis Freitag." → I need the report by Friday.
To indicate that something starts from a specific day onward, "ab" is used:
"Ab Mittwoch haben wir neues Personal." → From Wednesday, we have new staff.
"Ab Montag beginnt der neue Kurs." → The new course starts on Monday.
If something happens before a certain day, "vor" is used:
"Er muss vor Dienstag fertig sein." → He must be finished before Tuesday.
"Ich komme vor Donnerstag zurück." → I will return before Thursday.
Learning how to use these words with days in German is essential for understanding work schedules, university deadlines, and everyday planning.