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German adverbs can look similar but carry different nuances. A common confusion for learners is between schon y bereits. Both often translate as ya, but they are not always interchangeable.

The Simple Rule

• schon → very common in everyday spoken German.
• bereits → more formal, used in writing, news, and official contexts.

Schon: Everyday Usage

Schon is flexible and used constantly in daily conversations.

Ejemplos:

• Ich habe schon gegessen. (I have already eaten.)
• Bist du schon fertig? (Are you already finished?)
• Er ist schon da. (He is already there.)

It can also mean yet o even, depending on context:

• Schon um 7 Uhr war er da. (He was there as early as 7 o’clock.)

Bereits: Formal and Written Style

Bereits is more common in newspapers, reports, and official texts. It has the same meaning as ya, but sounds more formal.

Ejemplos:

• Die Firma hat das Projekt bereits abgeschlossen. (The company has already completed the project.)
• Bereits im 19. Jahrhundert gab es diese Tradition. (As early as the 19th century, this tradition existed.)

Schon vs. Bereits: Side by Side

Common Mistakes — and How to Fix Them

• ❌ Bist du bereits fertig? (too formal in casual talk)
  ✔️ Better: Bist du schon fertig?
• ❌ Die Firma hat das Projekt schon abgeschlossen. (grammatically fine but too casual for a report)
  ✔️ Better: Die Firma hat das Projekt bereits abgeschlossen.

FAQ: Schon vs. Bereits

Q: Are they synonyms?
Yes, in meaning, but not in style.

Q: Which one should I learn first?
Start with schon — it’s used far more often in conversation.

Q: Can I always replace schon with bereits?
Grammatically yes, but it will sound too formal in casual contexts.

Final Note

For beginners:

• Use schon in daily life.
• Use bereits in writing, news, or formal speech.

👉 For stylistic and cultural nuances, see Schon vs. Bereits: Why One Word Feels Warmer and the Other Colder by Tymur Levitin.

📚 Related Articles

• Perfekt vs. Präteritum: What’s the Real Difference?
• Schon vs. Bereits: Why One Word Feels Warmer and the Other Colder

👨‍🏫 Autor: Tymur Levitin — founder, director, and senior teacher at Levitin Language School | Start Language School by Tymur Levitin.
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© Tymur Levitin | Category: German Grammar for Beginners