Before you start
Meet abstellen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
ab- + stellen
- ab-
- away or out of operation
- stellen
- to put or set
You set something aside or take it out of operation.
So abstellen means to turn off or shut down; to park.
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 stellen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
- vorstellento introduce, imagine
- darstellento depict, portray
- feststellento establish, detect
- einstellento adjust, employ, stop
- herstellento produce
- aufstellento put up, draw up
- anstellento employ, line up, get into mischief
- herausstellento emphasize, come to light
Separable verb: ab·stellen
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 stellt den Wecker ab.She turns off the alarm clock.
Subordinate clauseIch bleibe, weil du das Licht abstellst.I’m staying because you’re turning off the light.
Participle: abgestelltzu-infinitive: abzustellen
Forms
How abstellen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | stelle ab | stellte ab |
| du | stellst ab | stelltest ab |
| er/sie/es | stellt ab | stellte ab |
| wir | stellen ab | stellten ab |
| ihr | stellt ab | stelltet ab |
| Sie | stellen ab | stellten ab |
Partizip II abgestellt · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich stelle das Radio ab.I turn off the radio.prefix goes to the end
- 2Er hat sein Auto hier abgestellt.He parked his car here.Perfekt for parking
- 3Wir dürfen den Motor nicht abstellen.We must not turn off the engine.modal verb plus infinitive
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
abstellen + der Wagen
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use der Wagen as the direct object.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I turned it off before beddas Bett.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When we arrivedankommen, he parkedparken the cardas Auto in front of the housedas Haus.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She turned off the waterdas Wasser because the childdas Kind was sleepingschlafen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The cardas Auto that he parked yesterdaygestern is in front ofvor our housedas Haus.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
You must turn off the ovender Herd before you leavegehen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She forgotvergessen to turn off the radiodas Radio before workdie Arbeit.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Where did you park the bikedas Fahrrad this morningheute Morgen?
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:
abstellen + der Fernseher + dass
Your challenge
- 1Use a dass-clause.
- 2Say that he turned off the television.
- 3Put the conjugated verb at the end of the clause.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What do you usually turn off at home? Answer in one German sentence.
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one sentence using abstellen.
- 2Say what you usually turn off at home.