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Questions & Answers about Ich schaue im Kalender nach, ob morgen noch ein Termin frei ist.
What does schaue … nach mean, and why is nach at the end?
It’s the separable verb nachschauen = “to check/look up.” In main clauses, separable prefixes go to the end, so you get the sentence “bracket” (Satzklammer): Ich (subject) schaue (finite verb) … nach (prefix at the end). The phrase im Kalender sits inside that bracket: Ich schaue im Kalender nach …
Is nachschauen the same as nachsehen or nachgucken?
They all mean “to check.” Nuances:
- nachsehen: very common, a bit more standard.
- nachschauen: also common; slightly more southern in feel but understood everywhere.
- nachgucken: colloquial, more northern/regional. All work fine in this sentence.
Why im Kalender and not in dem Kalender?
im is simply the normal contraction of in dem. Both are correct, but im is what you use in fluent speech and writing.
Why Dative in im Kalender? Could I say in den Kalender?
- in + Dative = location (where?) → im Kalender (in dem Kalender) when the idea is “within the calendar.”
- in + Accusative = direction (into/where to?) → with plain schauen, you often get direction of gaze: in den Kalender schauen. So:
- im Kalender nachschauen (checking within the calendar, Dative)
- in den Kalender schauen (look into the calendar, Accusative)
Do I need the comma before ob?
Yes. ob introduces a subordinate clause, and German requires a comma before it: …, ob …
When do I use ob vs wenn vs falls for “if”?
- ob = “whether/if” in indirect yes–no questions: “I’m checking whether …”
- wenn = “if/when(ever)” for conditions or repeated times.
- falls = “in case/if” (conditional, slightly more formal than wenn in this sense). Here you must use ob.
Why is ist at the very end of the second clause?
Because ob triggers subordinate clause word order: the conjugated verb goes to the end: …, ob … frei ist.
Why ein Termin, not einen Termin?
Because the verb sein (“to be”) takes the nominative on both sides. In ein Termin frei ist, ein Termin is the subject, and frei is a predicative adjective. If you rephrase with geben (“there is”), you switch to accusative: ob es … einen freien Termin gibt.
What exactly does noch express here?
Here noch means “still/any left”: …, whether there is still an appointment free (any slots left).
- ob morgen noch ein Termin frei ist = Are there any slots left for tomorrow?
- ob morgen ein Termin noch frei ist shifts the focus: a specific known slot—“whether that slot is still free.”
- noch ein Termin can also mean “another appointment (in addition).” Context decides.
Why does frei have no ending, but I sometimes see freien Termin?
- frei is predicative (after “to be”): ein Termin frei ist → no ending.
- freien is attributive (before a noun): einen freien Termin (accusative masculine).
Natural rephrase: ob es morgen noch einen freien Termin gibt.
Should morgen be capitalized? What’s the difference between morgen and der Morgen?
- morgen (lowercase) = “tomorrow” (adverb).
- der Morgen (capitalized) = “the morning” (noun), e.g., am Morgen = “in the morning.”
In the sentence it’s the adverb, so lowercase: morgen.
Is Termin the right word for any kind of meeting?
Termin is a scheduled, often formal appointment (doctor, office, salon). For a social meet-up use Verabredung or Treffen; for a romantic “date,” colloquial Date or Verabredung.
Can I drop nach and just say Ich schaue im Kalender, ob …?
Yes, that’s acceptable and idiomatic. nachschauen/nachsehen simply makes the “checking” idea explicit. Many speakers say both: Ich schaue (im Kalender) nach … or Ich schaue im Kalender, ob …
Is Ich schaue nach im Kalender also okay?
You’ll hear it, but the most idiomatic order keeps the object inside the sentence “bracket”: Ich schaue im Kalender nach. Placing nach right before im Kalender (Ich schaue nach im Kalender) is possible in speech but sounds less neat.
How would I say this in the past or future?
- Past (present perfect): Ich habe im Kalender nachgeschaut, ob morgen noch ein Termin frei ist.
- Future: Ich werde im Kalender nachschauen, ob morgen noch ein Termin frei ist.
(Use ist/war in the subclause depending on whether “tomorrow” is still future at the time of speaking.)
Could I rephrase the second clause using geben?
Yes:
- Singular: …, ob es morgen noch einen freien Termin gibt.
- Plural: …, ob es morgen noch freie Termine gibt. This version is very common and sounds natural.
Why is Kalender capitalized?
All German nouns are capitalized, so Kalender and Termin are capitalized. Adverbs like morgen are not (unless at the start of a sentence).