Before you start
Meet abwenden
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
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.
Verb family
More verbs built on wenden
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
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
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
abwenden + der Blick
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use der Blick as an accusative object.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He turned away from her at the stationder Bahnhof.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When the dogder Hund ran towardzulaufen me, I turned away.
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 away from the windowdas Fenster because the sundie Sonne was too brighthell.
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Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The mander Mann, die Männer who turned away from us was my teacherder Lehrer.
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Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
We must avert the dangerdie Gefahr before it reacheserreichen our housedas Haus.
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Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He triedversuchen to avert the problemdas Problem before it got worseschlimm.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Can you turn away from the screender Bildschirm for a momenteinen Moment?
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Task 9 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
abwenden + die Gefahr + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Use die Gefahr as an accusative object.
- 3Add a main clause after the subordinate clause.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What would you turn away from if you could?
Your challenge
- 1Answer in one German sentence.
- 2Use Konjunktiv II.
- 3Say what you would turn away from.