Before you start
Meet abhalten
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
All 5 meanings
- (transitive) to keep off, away, or out; to hold off
- (transitive) to stop (someone from doing something); to block; to hold back or up
- (transitive) to hold (a service, ceremony, etc.)
- (transitive) to hold (a child while it relieves itself)
- (transitive, nautical) to change the direction from
Build the meaning
ab- + halten
- ab-
- away or off
- halten
- to hold
Imagine holding someone away from an action, which can help you remember the sense “to keep from.”
So abhalten means to keep or dissuade someone from doing something; to hold or conduct an event.
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·halten
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 clauseIch halte dich nicht ab.I'm not stopping you.
Subordinate clauseWeil der Regen uns vom Spielen abhält.Because the rain is keeping us from playing.
Participle: abgehaltenzu-infinitive: abzuhalten
Forms
How abhalten changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | halte ab | hielt ab |
| du | hältst ab | hieltst ab |
| er/sie/es | hält ab | hielt ab |
| wir | halten ab | hielten ab |
| ihr | haltet ab | hieltet ab |
| Sie | halten ab | hielten ab |
Partizip II abgehalten · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Die Schule hält heute einen Test ab.The school is holding a test today.prefix goes to the end
- 2Der Regen hat uns vom Spiel abgehalten.The rain kept us from playing.Perfekt with haben
- 3Ich weiß, dass du mich nicht abhältst.I know that you aren't stopping me.verb at the end after dass
Verb family
More verbs built on halten
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.