Before you start
Meet abwenden
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
All 3 meanings
- (transitive) to avert, to turn to the side
- (reflexive) to turn away
- (transitive) to ward off
Build the meaning
ab- + wenden
- ab-
- away from or off
- wenden
- to turn
Turn something away from a direction or danger.
So abwenden means to turn away; to avert.
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·wenden
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 clauseIch wende mich ab.I turn away.
Subordinate clauseEr bleibt am Fenster, weil er sich abwendet.He stays at the window because he turns away.
Participle: abgewendetzu-infinitive: abzuwenden
Forms
How abwenden changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | wende ab | wandte ab |
| du | wendest ab | wandtest ab |
| er/sie/es | wendet ab | wandte ab |
| wir | wenden ab | wandten ab |
| ihr | wendet ab | wandtet ab |
| Sie | wenden ab | wandten ab |
Partizip II abgewendet · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Sie wendet den Blick ab.She turns her gaze away.prefix goes to the end
- 2Er hat den Streit abgewendet.He averted the argument.Perfekt with haben
- 3Ich hoffe, dass sie den Unfall abwenden kann.I hope she can prevent the accident.verb at the end after dass
Verb family
More verbs built on wenden
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.