Before you start
Meet abspielen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
All 3 meanings
- to play (a tape, a movie, an audio or video file etc.); to replay
- (sports) to pass, to play off
- (reflexive) to happen, to go like (of a story, occurrence, event)
Build the meaning
ab- + spielen
- ab-
- through to its end, as something runs its course
- spielen
- to play
Something is played through to its end, or an event plays itself out.
So abspielen means to play back a recording; to take place.
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·spielen
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 spielt das Video ab.She plays the video.
Subordinate clauseIch höre zu, weil er das Lied abspielt.I listen because he plays the song.
Participle: abgespieltzu-infinitive: abzuspielen
Forms
How abspielen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | spiele ab | spielte ab |
| du | spielst ab | spieltest ab |
| er/sie/es | spielt ab | spielte ab |
| wir | spielen ab | spielten ab |
| ihr | spielt ab | spieltet ab |
| Sie | spielen ab | spielten ab |
Partizip II abgespielt · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich spiele das Lied ab.I play the song.prefix goes to the end
- 2Wir haben den Film gestern abgespielt.We played the film yesterday.Perfekt with haben
- 3Wenn du die Musik abspielst, höre ich zu.When you play the music, I listen.verb at the end after wenn