Telling time, days of the week, months
Telling time, days of the week, months
Can tell time, name days and months
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Et ass hallwer zéng.
It's half past nine (9:30).
Ech schaffen vu Méindeg bis Freideg.
I work from Monday to Friday.
Mäi Gebuertsdag ass am Mäerz.
My birthday is in March.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
D'Auer (telling time):
| 8:00 = aacht Auer | 8:30 = hallwer néng |
| 8:15 = Véirel op néng | 8:45 = Véirel vir néng |
Deeg vun der Woch: Méindeg, Dënschdeg, Mëttwoch, Donneschdeg, Freideg, Samschdeg, Sonndeg.
Méint: Januar, Februar, Mäerz, Abrëll, Mee, Juni, Juli, August, September, Oktober, November, Dezember.
Wichteg: Hallwer néng = half to nine (8:30) — like German halb neun. NOT half past eight!
The half-hour convention (hallwer néng = 8:30) confuses English speakers who expect "half past eight
Common Error Patterns
Interpreting hallwer X as X:30 instead of (X-1):30
Hallwer néng = 8:30, hallwer zéng = 9:30 — always half toward the next hour
Et ass hallwer zéng.
It's half past nine (9:30).
Hallwer zéng = half toward ten = 9:30. NOT 10:30!
Ech schaffen vu Méindeg bis Freideg.
I work from Monday to Friday.
Days of the week. Vu...bis = from...to.
Mäi Gebuertsdag ass am Mäerz.
My birthday is in March.
Am + month. Mäerz = March (Luxembourgish spelling).
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises