Before you start
Meet abziehen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
ab- + ziehen
- ab-
- away or off from a whole
- ziehen
- to pull or draw
Imagine pulling something off a whole so it is removed or deducted.
So abziehen means to take off or remove; to deduct; to withdraw.
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 ziehen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
Separable verb: ab·ziehen
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 ziehe den Aufkleber ab.I peel off the sticker.
Subordinate clauseSie sagt, dass er die Folie abzieht.She says that he is peeling off the film.
Participle: abgezogenzu-infinitive: abzuziehen
Forms
How abziehen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | ziehe ab | zog ab |
| du | ziehst ab | zogst ab |
| er/sie/es | zieht ab | zog ab |
| wir | ziehen ab | zogen ab |
| ihr | zieht ab | zogt ab |
| Sie | ziehen ab | zogen ab |
Partizip II abgezogen · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Die Soldaten ziehen heute ab.The soldiers are leaving today.prefix goes to the end
- 2Sie hat fünf Euro abgezogen.She deducted five euros.Perfekt with haben
- 3Ich sage, dass du das Pflaster abziehst.I say that you are pulling off the bandage.verb at the end after dass
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
abziehen + der Preis
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Say how much the shop deducts from der Preis.
- 3Use der Preis as the starting amount.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I deducted it from the priceder Preis.
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 billdie Rechnung arrived, she deducted the discountder Rabatt from the priceder Preis.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The shop deducted five euros from the billdie Rechnung because the breaddas Brot was old.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The moneydas Geld that the shop deducted was too much for us.
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 subtract two euros from the priceder Preis.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She took off her jacketdie Jacke to go into the waterdas Wasser.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Would you deduct the moneydas Geld from the billdie Rechnung?
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:
abziehen + die Jacke + weil
Your challenge
- 1Use die Jacke as the thing taken off.
- 2Start a reason clause with weil.
- 3Put the conjugated verb at the end of that clause.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What have you ever deducted from a price or bill? Answer in one German sentence using the verb.
Your challenge
- 1Answer in one sentence using the Perfekt.
- 2Say what you deducted and from what.