Before you start
Meet abnehmen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
ab- + nehmen
- ab-
- away or downward, indicating removal or reduction
- nehmen
- to take
Taking something away gives the idea of removing it or making an amount smaller.
So abnehmen means to take off or remove; to decrease; to lose weight.
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 nehmen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
- annehmento accept, assume
- aufnehmento record, include
- zunehmento increase
- einnehmento take up, in
- vornehmento plan
- teilnehmento take part
- wahrnehmento perceive, detect
- mitnehmento take along
Separable verb: ab·nehmen
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 Preis nimmt morgen ab.The price goes down tomorrow.
Subordinate clauseSie freut sich, weil sie abnimmt.She is happy because she is losing weight.
Participle: abgenommenzu-infinitive: abzunehmen
Forms
How abnehmen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | nehme ab | nahm ab |
| du | nimmst ab | nahmst ab |
| er/sie/es | nimmt ab | nahm ab |
| wir | nehmen ab | nahmen ab |
| ihr | nehmt ab | nahmt ab |
| Sie | nehmen ab | nahmen ab |
Partizip II abgenommen · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich nehme langsam ab.I’m slowly losing weight.prefix goes to the end
- 2Sie hat fünf Kilo abgenommen.She has lost five kilos.Perfekt with haben
- 3Er möchte abnehmen.He wants to lose weight.with a modal verb
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
abnehmen + der Mann
Your challenge
- 1Use der Mann as the subject.
- 2Use the present tense.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He has lost a littleein bisschen weightdas Gewicht.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When she took off her coatder Mantel, the roomdas Zimmer was warmwarm.
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 happyfroh because my father'sder Vater weightdas Gewicht is going down.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I know a womandie Frau who has lost weightdas Gewicht.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
You should take your hatder Hut off insidedrinnen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He wants to lose weight to feel bettersich besser fühlen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Why did you take it off the walldie Wand?
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:
abnehmen + obwohl + die Frau
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Put the verb at the end of that clause.
- 3Add a main clause.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
Have you ever lost weight? Answer in one German sentence.
Your challenge
- 1Answer in one sentence using abnehmen.
- 2Use the Perfekt.