Before you start
Meet abhängen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
ab- + hängen
- ab-
- away or down from something
- hängen
- to hang
Imagine one thing hanging from another: what happens to it depends on what it hangs from.
So abhängen means to depend on.
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 hängen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
Separable verb: ab·hängen
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 clauseDer Erfolg hängt von uns ab.Success depends on us.
Subordinate clauseSie bleibt zu Hause, weil ihr Besuch vom Wetter abhängt.She is staying at home because her visit depends on the weather.
Participle: abgehangenzu-infinitive: abzuhängen
Forms
How abhängen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | hänge ab | hing ab |
| du | hängst ab | hingst ab |
| er/sie/es | hängt ab | hing ab |
| wir | hängen ab | hingen ab |
| ihr | hängt ab | hingt ab |
| Sie | hängen ab | hingen ab |
Partizip II abgehangen · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Der Preis hängt vom Wetter ab.The price depends on the weather.prefix goes to the end
- 2Unser Ausflug hat vom Wetter abgehangen.Our trip depended on the weather.Perfekt with haben
- 3Ich weiß nicht, wovon der Preis abhängt.I don’t know what the price depends on.verb at the end
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
abhängen + der Ausflug + das Wetter
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Say that the trip depends on the weather using von.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
It depended on them.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When I was little, my pocket moneydas Taschengeld depended on my parentsdie Eltern.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
We are waiting because the gamedas Spiel depends on the weather.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The priceder Preis, which depends on the numberdie Zahl of people, is still lowniedrig.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Our plansder Plan, die Pläne can depend on the weather.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
It is hardschwer to say what the answerdie Antwort depends on.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
What does the priceder Preis depend on?
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:
abhängen + der Erfolg + dass
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense and davon abhängen.
- 2Add a dass-clause explaining what success depends on.
- 3Put the verb at the end of the dass-clause.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What does your weekend depend on? Answer in one German sentence.
Your challenge
- 1Answer in one sentence using the present tense of abhängen.
- 2Say what your weekend depends on using von.