German Phrase
Der Frühling fängt im März an.
Meaning
This sentence states a factual observation about the seasons. It highlights the use of the separable verb 'anfangen', where the prefix 'an' is placed at the end of the sentence in a main clause.
When to use
Use this phrase when discussing the calendar, weather patterns, or seasonal changes. It is appropriate for both casual small talk and educational contexts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Der Frühlingfängtim Märzan
Separable Verbs (anfangen)
The verb 'anfangen' is a separable verb. In a standard statement, the base 'fängt' takes the second position, and the prefix 'an' moves to the very end.
Temporal Prepositions
The word 'im' is a contraction of 'in dem'. It is used with months and seasons to indicate 'in'.
🗨In Conversation
Wann wird es endlich warm?
When will it finally get warm?
Der Frühling fängt im März an.
Spring begins in March.
✕Common Mistakes
Der Frühling anfangt im März.
German uses separable verbs; the prefix 'an' must move to the end of the sentence.
Der Frühling fängt in März an.
When referring to months, German uses the contraction 'im' (in + dem) rather than just 'in'.
↔Alternatives
Im März beginnt der Frühling.
In March, spring begins.
Der Frühlingsanfang ist im März.
The beginning of spring is in March.
Cultural Tip
In Germany, the arrival of spring is a significant cultural event marked by the opening of outdoor beer gardens and the start of 'Spargelzeit' (asparagus season). While the astronomical start is usually March 20th, people begin looking for the first snowdrops and crocuses much earlier.