Before you start
Meet abwarten
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
All 4 meanings
- (transitive) to await; to wait for
- (intransitive) to wait and see (await the course of events before taking action)
- (transitive) to wait through (until the end)
- (intransitive) to wait around, to be patient
Build the meaning
ab- + warten
- ab-
- through to completion or until a point is reached
- warten
- to wait
Wait until the awaited event or outcome arrives.
So abwarten means to wait for; to wait and see.
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·warten
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 clauseWarte bitte meine Antwort ab.Please wait for my answer.
Subordinate clause..., weil ich den richtigen Moment abwarten muss...., because I have to wait for the right moment.
Participle: abgewartetzu-infinitive: abzuwarten
Forms
How abwarten changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | warte ab | wartete ab |
| du | wartest ab | wartetest ab |
| er/sie/es | wartet ab | wartete ab |
| wir | warten ab | warteten ab |
| ihr | wartet ab | wartetet ab |
| Sie | warten ab | warteten ab |
Partizip II abgewartet · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich warte erst die Antwort ab.I’ll wait for the answer first.present, prefix at end
- 2Sie hat das Ende abgewartet.She waited until the end.Perfekt with haben
- 3Wir müssen das Wetter abwarten.We have to wait and see about the weather.modal verb plus infinitive