Before you start
Meet abhalten
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
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.
Verb family
More verbs built on halten
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
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
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
abhalten + der Regen
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use der Regen as the subject.
- 3Say whom it keeps from taking a walk.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The rainder Regen kept us from goinggehen to the parkder Park.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When I was illkrank, my friendsder Freund, die Freunde kept me from going to workdie Arbeit.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She stayedbleiben homezu Hause because the snowder Schnee kept her from drivingAuto fahren.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
We held a partydie Feier that my parentsdie Eltern had plannedplanen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The noiseder Lärm must not keep you from sleepingschlafen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She leftlosgehen earlyfrüh to keep the childrendas Kind, die Kinder from waitingwarten.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
What kept him from callinganrufen you yesterdaygestern?
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:
abhalten + das Fest + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Use the simple past.
- 2Hold das Fest.
- 3Add an obwohl-clause saying it was raining.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What might keep you from taking a trip this year?
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one German sentence.
- 2Use abhalten with a von-phrase.
- 3Say what might keep you from taking a trip.