German · B1 · Everyday language
Together Through The Day in German
Describe shared moments in your day using während (“while”). This conjunction connects actions happening at the same time. In the während clause, the finite verb goes at the end.
What you'll learn
- Describe two actions happening at the same time.
- Place the finite verb at the end of a während clause.
- Use correct word order when a sentence begins with während.
- Distinguish während (“while”) from bevor (“before”) and bis (“until”).
German phrases for together through the day
Ich singe, während du deine Milch trinkst.
I am singing while you drink your milk.
Trinkst goes at the end of the während clause. German uses the present tense for actions happening right now.
Während du schläfst, wasche ich deine Fläschchen.
While you sleep, I am washing your bottles.
When the während clause comes first, the main clause begins with its finite verb: wasche ich.
Papa hält deine Hand, während ich dir die Windel wechsle.
Dad is holding your hand while I change your nappy.
Jemandem die Windel wechseln means “to change someone’s nappy.” Dir identifies whose nappy is being changed.
Während du in der Badewanne planschst, wasche ich dir die Füße.
While you splash in the bath, I am washing your feet.
For body care, German often uses a dative pronoun with the definite article: dir die Füße, literally “to you the feet.”
Du schaust dir die Bäume an, während ich den Kinderwagen schiebe.
You are watching the trees while I push the pram.
Sich etwas anschauen means “to look at something.” In the main clause, anschauen separates: du schaust … an.
Während dein Brei abkühlt, binde ich dir dein Lätzchen um.
While your porridge cools, I am putting on your bib.
Abkühlen stays together at the end of the subordinate clause: abkühlt. Umbinden separates in the main clause: binde … um.
Ich sitze neben dir, während du das Krabbeln übst.
I am sitting beside you while you practise crawling.
Das Krabbeln means “crawling.” A verb used as a noun takes a capital letter.
Während der Arzt dich untersucht, spreche ich leise mit dir.
While the doctor examines you, I am speaking softly to you.
Untersuchen takes an accusative object: dich. Mit takes the dative: mit dir.
Hear these phrases and practise them
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
während
while
Here it connects two actions that overlap in time.
das Fläschchen
baby bottle
A common word for a feeding bottle. The plural is die Fläschchen.
die Windel wechseln
to change a nappy
Use dir die Windel wechseln when speaking directly to your child.
planschen
to splash about
Used for playful splashing in water.
der Kinderwagen
pram; pushchair
Einen Kinderwagen schieben means “to push a pram.”
der Brei
porridge; soft baby food
A broad everyday word. Haferbrei specifically means oat porridge.
das Lätzchen
bib
Ein Lätzchen umbinden means “to put a bib on.”
krabbeln
to crawl
As a noun, use das Krabbeln: das Krabbeln üben means “to practise crawling.”
Während: actions happening at the same time
Use während for simultaneous actions. The actions overlap, but they do not need to start or finish at exactly the same moment. Separate the clauses with a comma.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Während clause second | Main clause, während + subject + other information + finite verb. | Ich singe, während du deine Milch trinkst. |
| Während clause first | Während + subject + other information + finite verb, main-clause finite verb + subject + other information. | Während du schläfst, wasche ich deine Fläschchen. |
Verb placement
The finite verb is the verb form that agrees with the subject, such as du trinkst or ich singe. It goes last in the während clause. If that whole clause comes first, it fills the first position of the sentence, so the main-clause verb comes immediately after the comma.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Finite verb last | während du … trinkst | Ich singe, während du deine Milch trinkst. |
| Main verb before subject | Während …, wasche ich … | Während du schläfst, wasche ich deine Fläschchen. |
| Separable verb stays together | abkühlen → während dein Brei abkühlt | Während dein Brei abkühlt, binde ich dir dein Lätzchen um. |
Während, bevor and bis
All three introduce subordinate clauses with the finite verb at the end, but they express different timing: overlap, sequence or an endpoint.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Während: overlap | während = while | Ich singe, während du deine Milch trinkst. — I sing while you drink your milk. |
| Bevor: sequence | bevor = before | Ich singe, bevor du schläfst. — I sing before you sleep. |
| Bis: endpoint | bis = until | Ich singe, bis du einschläfst. — I sing until you fall asleep. |
More examples
Während du deine Milch trinkst, singe ich.
While you drink your milk, I am singing.
Moving the während clause to the beginning changes the main-clause order to singe ich.
Ich wasche deine Fläschchen, während du schläfst.
I am washing your bottles while you sleep.
With the main clause first, its subject comes before the verb: ich wasche.
Während du das Krabbeln übst, sitze ich neben dir.
While you practise crawling, I am sitting beside you.
Übst ends the subordinate clause; sitze begins the main clause after the comma.