Before you start
Meet abdecken
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
All 3 meanings
- (transitive) to cover
- (transitive) to cover costs
- (transitive) to uncover, untile
Build the meaning
ab- + decken
- ab-
- away or over, depending on context
- decken
- to cover
Deck something over or take its covering away, according to context.
So abdecken means to cover; to uncover or remove the covering from.
A memory aid, not a rule: prefixes change meaning from verb to verb.
Learning approach inspired by this explanation in r/German.
Separable verb: ab·decken
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 deckt den Topf ab.She covers the pot.
Subordinate clauseIch bleibe hier, weil ich den Topf abdecke.I’ll stay here because I’m covering the pot.
Participle: abgedecktzu-infinitive: abzudecken
Forms
How abdecken changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | decke ab | deckte ab |
| du | deckst ab | decktest ab |
| er/sie/es | deckt ab | deckte ab |
| wir | decken ab | deckten ab |
| ihr | deckt ab | decktet ab |
| Sie | decken ab | deckten ab |
Partizip II abgedeckt · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich decke das Essen ab.I cover the food.prefix goes to the end
- 2Wir haben den Tisch abgedeckt.We cleared the table.Perfekt with haben
- 3Du musst die Pflanzen nachts abdecken.You have to cover the plants at night.modal verb with infinitive