Breakdown of Ich gehe zurzeit selten ins Kino.
ich
I
gehen
to go
in
into
das Kino
the cinema
das
the; (neuter, accusative)
selten
rarely
zurzeit
at the moment
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Questions & Answers about Ich gehe zurzeit selten ins Kino.
What’s the difference between zurzeit and zur Zeit?
- zurzeit (one word) = currently, these days. It’s an adverb.
- zur Zeit (two words) = at that time/period (often referring to a specific or past time). Examples:
- Ich arbeite zurzeit viel. = I’m working a lot currently.
- Zur Zeit der Mauer war vieles anders. = At the time of the Wall, many things were different.
Why is it ins Kino and not zum Kino or just in das Kino?
- ins = contraction of in das. Both are correct, but ins is the normal, idiomatic form.
- ins Kino gehen is the standard way to say “go to the movies (to watch a film).”
- zum Kino (“to the cinema/building”) focuses on heading toward the location, not the activity; it’s unusual if you mean watching a movie.
Which case is Kino in here, and why?
- in is a two‑way preposition. With motion into a place, use the accusative.
- ins Kino = in das Kino (accusative) because you’re going into it.
- Location at rest takes dative: im Kino = in dem Kino (“in the cinema”).
Is the order zurzeit selten ins Kino correct? Where do time and frequency go?
Yes. A common guideline is Te-Ka-Mo-Lo (Temporal–Kausal–Modal–Lokal):
- zurzeit (temporal) + selten (modal/frequency) + ins Kino (local). You can front elements for emphasis with verb-second:
- Zurzeit gehe ich selten ins Kino. (emphasizes the time frame)
- Selten gehe ich zurzeit ins Kino. (strong focus on rarity; stylistically marked) Avoid: Ich gehe selten zurzeit ins Kino (sounds off).
Does ich gehe mean “I go” or “I’m going”? German doesn’t have a continuous form, right?
Correct. German uses the simple present for both:
- Ich gehe can mean “I go” (habitual) or “I’m going” (right now), depending on context. Here, with zurzeit and selten, it describes a current habit: “I rarely go these days.”
How strong is selten compared with nicht oft, kaum, and manchmal?
From less frequent to more frequent:
- nie/gar nicht (never)
- kaum (hardly ever; almost never)
- selten (rarely/seldom)
- nicht oft (not often)
- manchmal (sometimes)
- oft (often)
- sehr oft (very often)
Can selten be compared? What are the forms?
Yes:
- Comparative: seltener
- Superlative: am seltensten Example: Ich gehe jetzt seltener ins Kino als früher.
Why use gehen here and not fahren?
- Activity/attendance is typically expressed with gehen: ins Kino gehen, ins Theater gehen.
- fahren emphasizes the mode of transport: Ich fahre mit dem Auto ins Kino, but the core activity is still gehen.
What’s the difference between ins Kino and im Kino?
- ins Kino = into the cinema (motion/destination).
- im Kino = in the cinema (location). Examples:
- Ich gehe ins Kino.
- Ich bin im Kino.
If I mean I never go these days, how would I say that?
- Ich gehe zurzeit nie ins Kino.
- Stronger: Ich gehe zurzeit gar nicht ins Kino. (not at all)
Is zurzeit formal or casual? What are good alternatives?
Neutral and common. Synonyms:
- derzeit (a bit formal)
- momentan, im Moment (informal/neutral)
- gerade (right now; not a perfect synonym in all contexts) Avoid aktuell for personal habits; it often means “current/topical” in news contexts.
Pronunciation tips for the sentence?
- Ich: soft ch [ɪç] (like hissing “h”).
- gehe: two syllables [ˈɡeː-ə]; don’t make it one.
- zurzeit: starts with [ts]; Zeit = [tsaɪ̯t], like English “ts-eye-t.”
- selten: initial sound is [z] as in “zoo,” not [s].
- ins: short [ɪns].
- Kino: [ˈkiːno], long “ee.”
Why is zurzeit one word, but zur Schule is two?
- zurzeit is a lexicalized adverb meaning “currently.”
- zur Schule is the preposition zu
- article der
- noun Schule (“to the school”), i.e., a regular prepositional phrase.
- article der
What is the gender of Kino, and what articles go with it?
- Kino is neuter: das Kino.
- Accusative singular: das → contraction ins (in das).
- Dative singular: dem → contraction im (in dem). Indefinite: ein Kino, in ein Kino, in einem Kino.
How do I turn the sentence into a yes/no question?
Invert subject and verb:
- Gehst du zurzeit selten ins Kino?
- Formal: Gehen Sie zurzeit selten ins Kino?
Can I omit the preposition and say Ich gehe Kino?
No. German nouns generally need an article/preposition. The idiomatic expression is ins Kino gehen.