Before you start
Meet abschließen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
All 4 meanings
- to end, to finish or complete (one's studies, a task)
- to shut off
- to lock; to seal off
- to conclude (a contract, a deal), to finalise/finalize (a contract, an agreement)
Build the meaning
ab- + schließen
- ab-
- away or off, bringing something to an endpoint
- schließen
- to close
Close something off so it is shut, or bring a matter to its endpoint.
So abschließen means to lock; to complete; to conclude.
A memory aid, not a rule: prefixes change meaning from verb to verb.
Learning approach inspired by this explanation in r/German.
Separable verb: ab·schließen
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 schließt die Tür ab.He locks the door.
Subordinate clauseIch weiß, dass er die Tür abschließt.I know that he locks the door.
Participle: abgeschlossenzu-infinitive: abzuschließen
Forms
How abschließen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | schließe ab | schloss ab |
| du | schließt ab | schlossest ab |
| er/sie/es | schließt ab | schloss ab |
| wir | schließen ab | schlossen ab |
| ihr | schließt ab | schlosst ab |
| Sie | schließen ab | schlossen ab |
Partizip II abgeschlossen · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich schließe jeden Abend die Tür ab.I lock the door every evening.prefix goes to the end
- 2Wir haben den Vertrag gestern abgeschlossen.We concluded the contract yesterday.Perfekt with haben
- 3Sie ist froh, weil sie die Schule bald abschließt.She is happy because she will soon finish school.verb at the end after weil
Verb family
More verbs built on schließen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.