Before you start
Meet abschneiden
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
ab- + schneiden
- ab-
- away or off, indicating separation
- schneiden
- to cut
To cut something away is to separate it; figuratively, how you “cut” through a test or competition is how you perform.
So abschneiden means to cut off; to perform or fare (in a test or competition).
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·schneiden
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 clauseWir schneiden ein Stück ab.We cut off a piece.
Subordinate clauseSie bleibt, weil ich ein Stück abschneide.She stays because I cut off a piece.
Participle: abgeschnittenzu-infinitive: abzuschneiden
Forms
How abschneiden changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | schneide ab | schnitt ab |
| du | schneidest ab | schnittest ab |
| er/sie/es | schneidet ab | schnitt ab |
| wir | schneiden ab | schnitten ab |
| ihr | schneidet ab | schnittet ab |
| Sie | schneiden ab | schnitten ab |
Partizip II abgeschnitten · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich schneide das Papier hier ab.I cut the paper here.prefix goes to the end
- 2Sie hat den alten Ast abgeschnitten.She cut off the old branch.Perfekt with haben
- 3Er sagt, dass ich ein Stück abschneiden soll.He says that I should cut off a piece.verb at the end after dass
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
abschneiden + der Ast
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use der Ast as the direct object.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I cut it off yesterdaygestern.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When I was littleklein, my fatherder Vater cut my hairdas Haar, die Haare every summerder Sommer.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She cut the oldalt leavesdas Blatt, die Blätter off because they were brownbraun.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The man who cut the branchesder Ast, die Äste off is my uncleder Onkel.
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 cut a smallklein piecedas Stück off for him.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She tooknehmen a knifedas Messer to cut a piecedas Stück of breaddas Brot off.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
How did you do in the testder Test?
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:
abschneiden + dass
Your challenge
- 1Use a dass-clause.
- 2Put the target verb at the end of that clause.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
How did you do on your last test? Answer in one German sentence using the target verb.
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one sentence using the target verb.
- 2Say how you did on a test.