Before you start
Meet abreißen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
ab- + reißen
- ab-
- away or off from a larger whole
- reißen
- to tear
Tear something away from what it is attached to.
So abreißen means to tear down or tear off.
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 reißen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
Separable verb: ab·reißen
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 reißt den Zettel ab.She tears the note off.
Subordinate clauseEr lacht, weil das Papier abreißt.He laughs because the paper tears off.
Participle: abgerissenzu-infinitive: abzureißen
Forms
How abreißen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | reiße ab | riss ab |
| du | reißt ab | rissest ab |
| er/sie/es | reißt ab | riss ab |
| wir | reißen ab | rissen ab |
| ihr | reißt ab | risst ab |
| Sie | reißen ab | rissen ab |
Partizip II abgerissen · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Der Wind reißt das Papier ab.The wind tears the paper off.prefix goes to the end
- 2Wir haben das alte Haus abgerissen.We tore down the old house.Perfekt with haben
- 3Du musst das Bild nicht abreißen.You must not tear the picture off.modal verb with infinitive
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
abreißen + der Zettel
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use der Zettel as the thing you tear off.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I tore it off the walldie Wand yesterday.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When they tore down the oldalt housedas Haus, die Häuser, we movedumziehen to a new apartmentdie Wohnung, die Wohnungen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She is sadtraurig because they tore down her oldalt schooldie Schule, die Schulen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The walldie Wand, die Wände that they tore down was very oldalt.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
We have to tear down the oldalt shedder Schuppen, die Schuppen this weekenddas Wochenende, die Wochenenden.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He went to the oldalt housedas Haus, die Häuser to tear down the smallklein walldie Wand, die Wände.
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 they tear down the bridgedie Brücke, die Brücken?
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:
abreißen + das alte Haus + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Say that the house still looks good.
- 3Say that you are tearing down the house.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
Have you ever torn something off or torn something down? Answer in one German sentence.
Your challenge
- 1Answer the question in one sentence.
- 2Use the Perfekt with abreißen.