German Phrase
Die Sonderausstellung macht bald zu.
Meaning
The sentence announces that a temporary or special exhibition will close soon. It is a typical phrase you’ll see on museum signage or hear from staff when the exhibition period is about to end.
When to use
Use this phrase when informing visitors, friends, or colleagues that a special exhibition is nearing its end – for example on museum flyers, in a guided tour, or in casual conversation about cultural plans.
✦Grammar Breakdown
DieSonderausstellungmachtbaldzu
Definite article (Die)
‘Die’ is the feminine singular definite article, matching the noun ‘Sonderausstellung’.
Noun gender (Sonderausstellung)
‘Sonderausstellung’ is a feminine noun (die Sonderausstellung) meaning ‘special exhibition’.
Separable verb (zu‑machen)
‘macht … zu’ is the present tense of the separable verb ‘zumachen’ (to close, to shut). The prefix ‘zu’ moves to the end of the clause.
Adverb position (bald)
Adverbs of time like ‘bald’ usually appear between the verb stem and the separable prefix.
🗨In Conversation
Wir sollten die Sonderausstellung noch besuchen, bevor sie schließt.
We should still visit the special exhibition before it closes.
Ja, die Sonderausstellung macht bald zu.
Yes, the special exhibition will close soon.
✕Common Mistakes
Die Sonderausstellung macht zu bald.
The adverb ‘bald’ must stay between the verb stem and the separable prefix; placing it after ‘zu’ sounds unnatural.
Die Sonderausstellung schließt bald zu.
‘schließt’ is not separable, so you cannot add ‘zu’ after it. Use either ‘schließt bald’ or ‘macht bald zu’.
die sonderausstellung macht bald zu.
Capitalisation matters in German; nouns and the first word of a sentence must be capitalised.
↔Alternatives
Die Sonderausstellung schließt bald.
The special exhibition closes soon.
Die Sonderausstellung endet in Kürze.
The special exhibition ends shortly.
Die Sonderausstellung wird bald beendet.
The special exhibition will be finished soon.
Cultural Tip
German museums often use the separable verb ‘zu‑machen’ in announcements because it sounds concise and official. Stick to the neutral or formal register when speaking with staff; with friends you can also say ‘schließt bald’ for a slightly more relaxed tone. Remember that ‘bald’ implies a short time frame, usually within days, not weeks.