Before you start
Meet abwarten
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
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
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
abwarten + der Zug
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use der Zug as the object.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I waited it out at homezu Hause.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When it rainedregnen, we waited out the rainder Regen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I waited for the answerdie Antwort because I did not knowwissen what to dotun.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The resultdas Ergebnis that we are waiting for will come tomorrowmorgen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
You should wait for the doctor'sder Arzt answerdie Antwort.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
It is bettergut to wait for the priceder Preis before buyingkaufen it.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Did you wait for the weatherdas Wetter to improvebesser werden?
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:
abwarten + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with the main clause.
- 2Add an obwohl-clause.
- 3Put the conjugated verb at the end of that clause.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What do you usually wait for before making a decision?
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one sentence using abwarten.
- 2Name something you wait for before deciding.