erst

In a sentence

• Ich bin erst um neun Uhr angekommen.

  I only arrived at nine o'clock.

  In this sentence, 'erst' highlights that the action of arriving happened later than perhaps expected; it adds emphasis to the timing of the event. 'Erst' is used to indicate the idea of 'only just' or 'not earlier than' a specific time.

• Erst studieren, dann feiern!

  Study first, then celebrate!

  'Erst' is used here to indicate sequence, emphasizing that studying should happen before celebrating. It serves to structure the order of actions.

• Das ist erst der Anfang.

  This is only the beginning.

  Here, 'erst' underscores the preliminary nature of the situation, implying there is much more to come. It conveys an idea of 'just the beginning' or an early stage in a sequence or process.