Can someone please explain, what's happening to genitive in following sentence?
Ich glaube so ungefähr Ende Februar.
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1Short answer: They’re both valid. I don’t feel like writing the long answer, though.– JanOct 23, 2016 at 19:49
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3No one would actually say "Ende des Februars", though.– CraigOct 23, 2016 at 21:48
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How about "Ende Februars" Is it common in speech, if correct at all?– amirdeqOct 24, 2016 at 6:44
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4Note, that unspecific nouns in phrases like Ende des Monats, Anfang der Woche, Mitte des Jahres work exactly like you expect. I assume, it is related to the specific name used, similar to Mittwoch früh. Names frequently occur without any article, but I could not find the related rule quickly.– guidot ♦Oct 24, 2016 at 7:44
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another guestion, is it still in genetive:Ende Februar?– DragutNov 29, 2016 at 19:12
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1 Answer
You use "Ende Februar" because you're referring to a point in time. That point of time only supports and specifies a statement, it's not the subject of that statement.
Ich glaube die Klausuren beginnen so ungefähr Ende Februar.
If you wanted to make a statement about the end of the month February (that actual portion of the month), you would use the Genitive.
Das Ende des Dezembers ist gewöhnlich eine von vielen Festen und Feiertagen geprägte Zeit.
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1I am not sure if this is right. I wouldn't say the second sentence because it sounds strange.– IrisOct 26, 2016 at 6:40
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1Many things sounds strange because nobody talks in that way, I agree. The purpose of that sentence was only to showcase the grammar. Nov 2, 2016 at 22:29
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I had another question that is this expression still in genetive:Ende Februar?– DragutNov 29, 2016 at 19:14