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Wir verabreden uns morgen am Bahnhof.

Wir verabreden uns morgen am Bahnhof.
We arrange to meet tomorrow at the train station.
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Questions & Answers about Wir verabreden uns morgen am Bahnhof.

Why is there an uns in Wir verabreden uns? What does it do?

German uses a reflexive pronoun with the verb sich verabreden. The reflexive pronoun (mich/dich/sich/uns/euch/sich) is part of the verb’s normal pattern and must be included. So:

  • Ich verabrede mich.
  • Du verabredest dich.
  • Er/Sie verabredet sich.
  • Wir verabreden uns.
  • Ihr verabredet euch.
  • Sie verabreden sich.

It doesn’t mean “ourselves” in a literal sense; it simply marks the verb as reflexive and often implies a reciprocal action (“arrange to meet with each other”).

Can I say Wir treffen uns morgen am Bahnhof instead? What’s the difference?

Yes. The difference is nuance:

  • sich verabreden = to make an appointment / arrange to meet.
  • sich treffen = to actually meet.

So:

  • Wir verabreden uns morgen am Bahnhof. = We arrange a meeting (for) tomorrow at the station.
  • Wir treffen uns morgen am Bahnhof. = We will meet tomorrow at the station.

If you are talking about the actual meeting, treffen is the straightforward choice.

Does morgen refer to the time of arranging or the time of the meeting?

In everyday understanding here it refers to the time of the meeting. You’re arranging that the meeting will be tomorrow. If you want to make that crystal clear, add für:

  • Wir verabreden uns für morgen am Bahnhof.

If you mean that the arranging itself will happen tomorrow (not the meeting), say:

  • Wir verabreden uns morgen. (no place or meeting time)
  • or clarify: Wir verabreden morgen am Telefon, wann wir uns treffen.
Why is it am Bahnhof and not im Bahnhof or zum Bahnhof?
  • am Bahnhof = an + dem Bahnhof (dative). Static location “at/by the station” (the general area).
  • im Bahnhof = inside the station building (also dative).
  • zum Bahnhof = zu + dem Bahnhof (dative after a motion verb). Direction “to the station.”

Examples:

  • Static: Wir treffen uns am Bahnhof.
  • Inside: Wir warten im Bahnhof.
  • Motion: Wir gehen zum Bahnhof.
What case does an take in am Bahnhof?

an is a two-way preposition. It takes:

  • Dative for location (Wo?): am Bahnhof.
  • Accusative for direction (Wohin?): an den Bahnhof (rare in this context; people normally say zum Bahnhof for “to the station”).
Is verabreden separable? Where does the prefix go?

No. ver- is an inseparable prefix. You never split verabreden. In the perfect tense the participle is verabredet (no ge- added because of the inseparable prefix):

  • Wir haben uns verabredet.
How would I say this in the past?

Use the present perfect:

  • Wir haben uns gestern am Bahnhof verabredet. (We arranged to meet yesterday at the station.) For “we met,” use treffen:
  • Wir haben uns gestern am Bahnhof getroffen.
Is uns accusative or dative here?
Accusative. With reflexive verbs, the reflexive pronoun is usually accusative unless there is already an accusative object. sich verabreden doesn’t take another direct object, so uns is accusative.
Can I drop uns and just say Wir verabreden morgen am Bahnhof?

Not with this meaning. sich verabreden requires the reflexive pronoun. If you drop it, you must supply a direct object:

  • Correct transitive use: Wir verabreden einen Termin. (We arrange an appointment.)
  • Reflexive use: Wir verabreden uns (für morgen am Bahnhof).
Do I need mit to mention the person I’m arranging with?

When you name the other party explicitly, you typically use mit:

  • Ich verabrede mich morgen mit dir am Bahnhof.
  • Peter verabredet sich mit Anna. With wir, both parties are already included, so mit isn’t needed.
Why does uns come before morgen? Could I say Wir verabreden morgen uns?

Pronouns normally come earlier in the middle field than adverbials. So:

  • Natural: Wir verabreden uns morgen am Bahnhof.
  • Wir verabreden morgen uns … sounds wrong in standard German.

You can front an adverbial for emphasis (keeping the verb second):

  • Morgen verabreden wir uns am Bahnhof.
  • Am Bahnhof verabreden wir uns morgen.
Is the capitalization of morgen correct? When would it be Morgen?

Yes. morgen (lowercase) is the adverb “tomorrow.” Morgen (uppercase) is the noun “morning,” as in am Morgen (in the morning). Example:

  • Wir treffen uns morgen am Bahnhof.
  • Wir treffen uns am Morgen am Bahnhof.
Could I use the future tense (werden) here?

You can, but German normally uses the present with a time adverb for future plans. These are natural:

  • Wir verabreden uns (für) morgen am Bahnhof.
  • Wir treffen uns morgen am Bahnhof. Using future: Wir werden uns morgen am Bahnhof verabreden tends to mean the arranging will take place tomorrow at the station, which is probably not what you want.
Are there synonyms for sich verabreden? Any register differences?

Yes:

  • Neutral/everyday: sich verabreden
  • Informal/colloquial: (etwas) ausmachen, abmachen (especially Swiss)
    • Wir machen (für) morgen am Bahnhof was aus.
  • More formal/businesslike: einen Termin vereinbaren
    • Wir vereinbaren einen Termin. For the actual meeting, use sich treffen.
Is am Bahnhof the only natural preposition here?

It’s the default for “at/by the station.” Use others for precision:

  • vor dem Bahnhof (in front of the station)
  • im Bahnhof (inside)
  • am Haupteingang (at the main entrance)
  • an Gleis 3 / auf Gleis 3 (at/on platform 3)
What’s the typical order of time and place here?

German prefers Time–Manner–Place in the middle field. With just time and place:

  • Wir verabreden uns morgen am Bahnhof. (time before place) You can front either element for emphasis, but keep the conjugated verb in second position:
  • Morgen verabreden wir uns am Bahnhof.
  • Am Bahnhof verabreden wir uns morgen.