In practice, "bis" is used on its own only with names, adverbs and a few time phrases. Otherwise it is followed by another preposition which determines the case of the following noun.
We shall look at "bis" in more detail in subsequent chapters, but for the moment note the construction required to express the date until which you plan to stay somewher and how to travel "as far as" a place:
The German flag Grammar 18: The preposition "bis"
Von wann bis wann bleiben Sie hier?
("From when until when are you staying here?")
Wir bleiben vom ersten bis zum siebten Februar.
("We're staying from the first to the seventh of February.")
Sie bleibt vom 20. August bis zum 24. August.
("She's staying from the twentieth to the twenty-fourth of August.")
Wie weit ist es bis zum Hotel?
("How far is it to the hotel?")
Mit dem Bus Linie 27 fahren Sie direkt bis zur Pension.
("You can travel directly to the guest-house using bus number 27.")
BUT:
von acht Uhr bis neun Uhr
("from eight o'clock until nine o'clock")
Ihr fahrt nur bis Dresden.
("You're only travelling as far as Dresden.")
Notes
1. If you need reminding about how to express dates in German, click here to return to the appropriate page in Chapter 9.
2. Note another construction that you can use to describe the duration of your stay:
Und für welches Datum, bitte?
(And for which date, please?)
Für den 14. und 15. März, also zwei Nächte.
(For the fourteenth and the fifteenth of March, that makes two nights.)
