Before you start
Meet ableiten
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
ab- + leiten
- ab-
- away from, as in tracing something back from a source
- leiten
- to guide or lead
You lead a conclusion away from its premises by tracing what follows from them.
So ableiten means to derive; to deduce.
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 leiten
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
Separable verb: ab·leiten
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 leitet den Namen von ihrem Vater ab.She derives the name from her father.
Subordinate clause..., weil wir die Antwort aus dem Text ableiten...., because we deduce the answer from the text.
Participle: abgeleitetzu-infinitive: abzuleiten
Forms
How ableiten changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | leite ab | leitete ab |
| du | leitest ab | leitetest ab |
| er/sie/es | leitet ab | leitete ab |
| wir | leiten ab | leiteten ab |
| ihr | leitet ab | leitetet ab |
| Sie | leiten ab | leiteten ab |
Partizip II abgeleitet · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich leite die Antwort aus dem Text ab.I deduce the answer from the text.present, prefix at the end
- 2Die Stadt hat das Wasser in einen Fluss abgeleitet.The city diverted the water into a river.Perfekt with haben
- 3Wir können die Regel aus dem Beispiel ableiten.We can derive the rule from the example.modal verb plus infinitive
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
ableiten + die Antwort
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Say what you derive and what you derive it from.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She derived it from the picturedas Bild.
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 readlesen the messagedie Nachricht, he immediatelysofort deduced the answerdie Antwort.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
We understoodverstehen it because she derived it from the exampledas Beispiel.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I spokesprechen to the teacherder Lehrer who deduced the answerdie Antwort from the picturedas Bild.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
You can deduce the priceder Preis from this listdie Liste.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He triedversuchen to derive a ruledie Regel from the examplesdas Beispiel, die Beispiele.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Could you deduce the answerdie Antwort from the signdas Schild?
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:
ableiten + dass
Your challenge
- 1Start with a main clause that says what you think.
- 2Use a dass-clause with ableiten.
- 3Put the conjugated verb at the end of the dass-clause.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What can you deduce from a picture you have seen?
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one sentence using ableiten.
- 2Say what you can deduce from a picture.