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Questions & Answers about Das Angebot läuft bald ab.
Why is ab at the end of the sentence?
In German, ab is a separable prefix of the verb ablaufen. In a main clause the prefix detaches and moves to the end. So ablaufen (to expire/run off) becomes läuft … ab when conjugated.
What does the verb ablaufen mean here?
In this context ablaufen means “to expire” or “to run out (of validity).” Literally it’s “run off,” but idiomatically it’s used for offers, deadlines, or food going past its best-before date.
Why do we say das Angebot and not der or die Angebot?
Angebot is a neuter noun in German, so its definite article in the nominative case is das. You would say ein Angebot if it were indefinite.
Why is Angebot capitalized?
All nouns in German are capitalized, regardless of their position in the sentence. That’s a standard spelling rule.
What does bald mean and can it be replaced?
bald means “soon.” It’s a time adverb indicating that something will happen in the near future. You could also say in Kürze or even demnächst, but gleich implies “in just a moment,” which is a bit more immediate than bald.
Could we change the word order, for example say Bald läuft das Angebot ab?
Yes. German main clauses follow the V2 rule: the finite verb stays second. You can start with the time adverb Bald, then the verb läuft, then subject and prefix: Bald läuft das Angebot ab. The meaning stays the same, but you shift emphasis to “soon.”
How would I talk about the offer having already expired?
You’d use the perfect tense with the past participle abgelaufen. For example:
• Das Angebot ist abgelaufen. (The offer has expired.)
• Der Gutschein ist bereits abgelaufen. (The voucher has already expired.)
Are there other verbs to express “expire” in German?
Yes, besides ablaufen you can use:
- verfallen (often for subscriptions, licenses)
- enden (to end; more general)
- auslaufen (to run out, e.g. fuel, contracts)
Each has its own nuance, so choose based on context.