Before you start
Meet ablegen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
ab- + legen
- ab-
- away from a person or place; set aside
- legen
- to lay, put
You lay something away from yourself or its current place, setting it aside.
So ablegen means to take off (clothing), put down, or file.
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 legen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
Separable verb: ab·legen
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 legt die Jacke ab.He takes off his jacket.
Subordinate clause..., weil er die Jacke ablegt...., because he takes off his jacket.
Participle: abgelegtzu-infinitive: abzulegen
Forms
How ablegen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | lege ab | legte ab |
| du | legst ab | legtest ab |
| er/sie/es | legt ab | legte ab |
| wir | legen ab | legten ab |
| ihr | legt ab | legtet ab |
| Sie | legen ab | legten ab |
Partizip II abgelegt · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich lege meinen Mantel ab.I take off my coat.prefix goes to the end
- 2Sie hat den Brief abgelegt.She filed the letter.Perfekt with haben
- 3Wir müssen die Tasche hier ablegen.We have to put the bag down here.modal verb with infinitive
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
ablegen + der Mantel
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use der Mantel as the thing being taken off.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I took it off after workdie Arbeit.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When he gets home, he takes off his shoesder Schuh, die Schuhe.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She put the papersdas Papier, die Papiere on the deskder Schreibtisch because she needed the tableder Tisch.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The examdie Prüfung that she took yesterday was difficultschwierig.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
You must take off your shoes herehier.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He forgotvergessen to take off his coatder Mantel.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Where did you put the bookdas Buch?
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:
ablegen + die Prüfung + dass
Your challenge
- 1Start with a main clause and add a dass-clause.
- 2Put the verb at the end of the dass-clause.
- 3Use die Prüfung as what someone takes.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
When do you take off your shoes at home?
Your challenge
- 1Answer in one sentence using ablegen.
- 2Say when you take off your shoes.