Before you start
Meet andeuten
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
an- + deuten
- an-
- toward or at something
- deuten
- to point out or indicate
You point toward an idea without stating it fully.
So andeuten means to hint at; to suggest.
A memory aid, not a rule: prefixes change meaning from verb to verb.
Learning approach inspired by this explanation in r/German.
Separable verb: an·deuten
In a main clause the prefix an splits off and goes to the end. After weil, dass and other subordinating words, the verb stays in one piece at the end.
Main clauseSie deutet den Grund an.She hints at the reason.
Subordinate clauseIch weiß, dass sie den Grund andeutet.I know that she is hinting at the reason.
Participle: angedeutetzu-infinitive: anzudeuten
Forms
How andeuten changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | deute an | deutete an |
| du | deutest an | deutetest an |
| er/sie/es | deutet an | deutete an |
| wir | deuten an | deuteten an |
| ihr | deutet an | deutetet an |
| Sie | deuten an | deuteten an |
Partizip II angedeutet · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Er deutet an, dass er müde ist.He hints that he is tired.present tense
- 2Sie hat einen Plan angedeutet.She hinted at a plan.Perfekt with haben
- 3Ich glaube, dass er ein Problem andeutet.I think he is indicating a problem.verb at the end after dass
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
andeuten + die Idee
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use die Idee as the thing being hinted at.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She hinted at it yesterday.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When she hinted at the problemdas Problem, I askedfragen her a questiondie Frage.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He hinted at the answerdie Antwort because he did not know it.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The messagedie Nachricht that she sentschicken hinted at a problemdas Problem.
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 hint at the 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:
He triedversuchen to hint at the answerdie Antwort without sayingsagen 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 she hint to them that the meetingdas Treffen was overvorbei?
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:
andeuten + der Vater + dass
Your challenge
- 1Use the simple past.
- 2Hint something to der Vater.
- 3Add a dass-clause with its verb at the end.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What would you hint at if you did not want to say it directly?
Your challenge
- 1Answer in one German sentence.
- 2Use andeuten in the Konjunktiv II.
- 3Include a dass-clause.