Before you start
Meet anfangen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
All 6 meanings
- (intransitive) to begin; to commence
- (intransitive) to start [with zu (+ infinitive) ‘doing something’]
- (intransitive) to begin, to start [with mit (+ dative) ‘something’]
- (intransitive) to start; to keep talking about [with von (+ dative) ‘a topic’]
- (transitive, colloquial) to begin something; to start something
- (transitive, colloquial) to put (something) to good use, to do [with accusative ‘something good, etc.’ and mit (+ dative) ‘with something’]
Build the meaning
an- + fangen
- an-
- toward or into an activity
- fangen
- to catch
You catch hold of an activity and get it underway.
So anfangen means to begin; to start.
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·fangen
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 clauseIch fange jetzt mit der Arbeit an.I’m starting work now.
Subordinate clauseSie sagt, dass das Spiel gleich anfängt.She says the game is starting soon.
Participle: angefangenzu-infinitive: anzufangen
Forms
How anfangen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | fange an | fing an |
| du | fängst an | fingst an |
| er/sie/es | fängt an | fing an |
| wir | fangen an | fingen an |
| ihr | fangt an | fingt an |
| Sie | fangen an | fingen an |
Partizip II angefangen · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Der Film fängt um acht an.The movie starts at eight.prefix goes to the end
- 2Wir haben mit dem Essen angefangen.We started eating.Perfekt with haben
- 3Ich bin froh, dass der Kurs heute anfängt.I’m glad the course starts today.verb at the end after dass