Before you start
Meet abbrechen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
ab- + brechen
- ab-
- away or off, suggesting separation or bringing something to an end
- brechen
- to break
Something breaks away from its continuation, so the action is broken off or stopped.
So abbrechen means to break off; to stop or cancel.
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 brechen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
Separable verb: ab·brechen
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 clauseEr bricht ein Stück Brot ab.He breaks off a piece of bread.
Subordinate clause…, weil wir das Gespräch abbrechen.…, because we are ending the conversation.
Participle: abgebrochenzu-infinitive: abzubrechen
Forms
How abbrechen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | breche ab | brach ab |
| du | brichst ab | brachst ab |
| er/sie/es | bricht ab | brach ab |
| wir | brechen ab | brachen ab |
| ihr | brecht ab | bracht ab |
| Sie | brechen ab | brachen ab |
Partizip II abgebrochen · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich breche das Gespräch ab.I end the conversation.prefix goes to the end
- 2Sie hat den Kurs abgebrochen.She dropped out of the course.Perfekt with haben
- 3Wir müssen das Spiel abbrechen.We have to stop the game.modal verb with infinitive
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
abbrechen + der Unterricht
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Say that a teacher stops the lesson.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She stopped it after ten minuteszehn Minuten.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When the rainder Regen startedanfangen, we stopped the gamedas Spiel.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He stopped the tripdie Reise because he was sickkrank.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I stopped the courseder Kurs that was too difficultschwierig.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
We had to stop the meetingdas Treffen · die Besprechung (work) earlyfrüh.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She decidedbeschließen to stop workingdie Arbeit.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Would you stop the gamedas Spiel if your childdas Kind were tiredmüde?
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:
abbrechen + das Gespräch + dass
Your challenge
- 1Start with a main clause introducing what someone says.
- 2Use a dass-clause.
- 3Say the conversation must stop.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
Have you ever stopped a trip, course, or activity early?
Your challenge
- 1Answer in one sentence using the Perfekt.
- 2Say what you stopped early.