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How to Say ‘On Saturday I was at the market.’ in German

Am Samstag war ich auf dem Markt.

ahm ZAMS-tahk vah ikh owf dehm markt

[ahm ZAMS-tahk vah ikh owf dehm markt]

💬 Usage Tip: When a time phrase starts the sentence, the verb still comes second, so ich moves after it: Am Samstag war ich, not Am Samstag ich war.

Phrase Breakdown

Am Samstag war ich

ahm ZAMS-tahk vah ikh

On Saturday I was

When the sentence starts with the time, the verb comes second and the subject follows it: 'war ich'.

Example

Am Samstag war ich müde.

On Saturday I was tired.

Words in this phrase

[ahm]

on the

Contracted preposition and article used before days.

Example

Am Montag passt es leider nicht.

On Monday it unfortunately does not work.

Samstag

[ZAMS-tahk]

Saturday

The sixth day of the week.

Example

Am Samstag gehen wir essen.

On Saturday we're going out to eat.

war

[vah]

was

Past tense of 'is', used to describe something that happened or existed in the past.

Example

Er war ein großer Krieger.

He was a great warrior.

ich

[ikh]

The pronoun 'ich' in nominative form.

Example

Ich bin da.

I am here.

auf dem Markt.

owf dehm markt

at the market.

This gives the location with 'auf' and the dative case.

Example

Wir treffen uns auf dem Markt.

We'll meet at the market.

Words in this phrase

auf

[owf]

Used with events and places like markets: 'auf dem Markt' = at the market.

Example

Sie ist auf einer Party.

She is at a party.

dem

[dehm]

the

A definite article used before a noun to specify it as something known or unique.

Example

Die Kinder spielen im Garten dem Hauses.

The children play in the garden of the house.

Markt

[markt]

market

Masculine noun (der Markt); a place where goods, often food, are sold.

Example

Der Markt ist jeden Samstag.

The market is every Saturday.

Guides for German learners

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