Questions & Answers about Ich frage nur einmal.
Why does this translate to "I am asking" when there is no "am" in the German sentence?
German does not have a separate continuous tense like English does. The simple present tense ich frage can mean both "I ask" and "I am asking" depending on what makes sense in context.
Is einmal an adverb of frequency like immer or oft?
Yes! While immer (always) and oft (often) are general adverbs of frequency, einmal tells you the exact number of times. Just like the general adverbs you are learning in this lesson, it typically sits after the verb.
Why is nur placed before einmal?
In German, the word nur (only) is usually placed directly in front of the specific detail it is emphasizing. Because you are stressing that you will ask only one time, nur goes right before einmal.
Can I write einmal as two separate words?
No, einmal is always written as a single word. Even though it is built from ein (one) and mal (time), they combine into one single adverb meaning "once".
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