All German word comparisons · Back to the topic overview
Meaning, sentence patterns and examples
| Word | Core meaning | Typical context | Grammar |
|---|---|---|---|
| bis | until; by; up to | An endpoint in time, space or a range | Preposition commonly governing accusative in a direct noun phrase: bis nächsten Montag. Often combines with another preposition, which governs its case: bis zum Ende uses zu + dative. As a subordinating conjunction, bis takes a verb-final clause. |
| bisher | so far; up to now | Looking back to the current reference point | Adverb; no inflection and no required noun complement. It can occupy the first position in a main clause: Bisher habe ich … . Then the finite verb follows it and the subject follows the verb. |
bis
Meaning and usage: Bis can say how long something continues or when something must be completed. Ich bleibe bis Freitag continues until Friday; Bitte antworte bis Freitag gives a deadline, naturally translated by Friday. As a conjunction, bis introduces an event that ends the waiting period. The English translation depends on the verb and situation.
Grammar: Preposition commonly governing accusative in a direct noun phrase: bis nächsten Montag. Often combines with another preposition, which governs its case: bis zum Ende uses zu + dative. As a subordinating conjunction, bis takes a verb-final clause.
Bitte schicken Sie die Antwort bis Freitag.
Please send the answer by Friday.
Ich warte, bis der Kurs beginnt.
I wait until the course begins.
bisher
Meaning and usage: Bisher reports what has or has not happened over a period up to now. It does not specify exactly when that period began. It can describe progress, experience or an absence of results. In a past narrative, the reference point may be the time being described rather than today. Bisher does not guarantee that the situation will continue unchanged.
Grammar: Adverb; no inflection and no required noun complement. It can occupy the first position in a main clause: Bisher habe ich … . Then the finite verb follows it and the subject follows the verb.
Bisher habe ich drei Kapitel gelesen.
So far, I have read three chapters.
Wir haben bisher keine Antwort erhalten.
We have not received an answer so far.
Overlap and context
Bis jetzt or bis heute can overlap with bisher. Replacing bisher with bis alone leaves the endpoint missing. A sentence with bisher often invites an update because its report stops at the reference point, but change is not part of its definition. Avoid assigning an exact future outcome just because someone says so far.
Common mistakes
- Do not write bisher Freitag for until Friday: use bis Freitag.
- Do not put a main-clause verb directly after bis when it introduces a standard subordinate clause: bis der Unterricht endet.
- Do not assume bis always means until: a completion deadline often means by.
Memory aid: Bis draws a boundary and asks: up to when or where? Bisher already answers up to now. Imagine a deadline marker versus a progress report.
Try it
Choose: ___ habe ich keine Schwierigkeiten gehabt.
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Bisher
The speaker reports experience up to now without introducing a separate endpoint. Bis jetzt would also express the time meaning.