Before you start
Meet abbauen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
ab- + bauen
- ab-
- away or off, suggesting removal
- bauen
- to build
Take apart or remove what was built, or reduce it piece by piece.
So abbauen means to dismantle; to reduce.
A memory aid, not a rule: prefixes change meaning from verb to verb.
Learning approach inspired by this explanation in r/German.
Verb family
More verbs built on bauen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
Separable verb: ab·bauen
In a main clause the prefix ab splits off and goes to the end. After weil, dass and other subordinating words, the verb stays in one piece at the end.
Main clauseSie baut den alten Schrank ab.She takes apart the old cupboard.
Subordinate clauseEr sagt, dass wir den Tisch abbauen.He says that we are taking apart the table.
Participle: abgebautzu-infinitive: abzubauen
Forms
How abbauen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | baue ab | baute ab |
| du | baust ab | bautest ab |
| er/sie/es | baut ab | baute ab |
| wir | bauen ab | bauten ab |
| ihr | baut ab | bautet ab |
| Sie | bauen ab | bauten ab |
Partizip II abgebaut · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Wir bauen das Zelt ab.We take down the tent.dismantling something
- 2Ich habe beim Sport Stress abgebaut.I reduced stress through sport.Perfekt with haben
- 3Ich weiß, dass wir das alte Haus abbauen.I know that we are taking down the old house.verb at the end after dass
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
abbauen + das Zelt
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Include das Zelt.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
We dismantled it after the partydie Party.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When we took down the tentdas Zelt, the childrendas Kind, die Kinder helped us.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She exercisesSport machen because she wants to reduce stressder Stress.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The workersder Arbeiter, die Arbeiter who are taking down the stagedie Bühne are my neighborsder Nachbar, die Nachbarn.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
We must take apart the tableder Tisch before we moveumziehen (to a new home).
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He stayedbleiben latelange to reduce the costsdie Kosten.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Can you take apart the shelfdas Regal for me?
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 9 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
abbauen + der Stress + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Use the present tense.
- 3Refer to der Stress with a pronoun.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What helps you reduce stress?
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one thing that helps you.
- 2Use abbauen in a zu-infinitive.