Before you start
Meet anhalten
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
an- + halten
- an-
- at or against, suggesting reaching a point of contact or restraint
- halten
- to hold
Bring something to a hold, so it stops; held on over time, it lasts.
So anhalten means to stop; to last or continue.
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 halten
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
Separable verb: an·halten
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 clauseBitte halte hier an.Please stop here.
Subordinate clauseEr sagt, dass der Bus dort anhält.He says that the bus stops there.
Participle: angehaltenzu-infinitive: anzuhalten
Forms
How anhalten changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | halte an | hielt an |
| du | hältst an | hieltest an |
| er/sie/es | hält an | hielt an |
| wir | halten an | hielten an |
| ihr | haltet an | hieltet an |
| Sie | halten an | hielten an |
Partizip II angehalten · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Der Bus hält hier an.The bus stops here.prefix goes to the end
- 2Der Fahrer hat vor dem Haus angehalten.The driver stopped in front of the house.Perfekt with haben
- 3Ich hoffe, dass der Regen noch lange anhält.I hope the rain lasts a long time.verb at the end after dass
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
an·halten + der Bus
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Make der Bus the subject.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The busder Bus stopped, and I sawsehen it.
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 rainder Regen stopped, we went homenach Hause.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She stopped the cardas Auto because she sawsehen a dogder Hund.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The busder Bus that stopped in front of our housedas Haus was fullvoll.
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 stop here because the traffic lightdie Ampel is redrot.
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 stop the cardas Auto, but it kept goingweiterfahren.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
How long will this rainder Regen last?
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:
an·halten + der Schnee + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Put the verb at the end of that clause.
- 3Add a main clause about going outside.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
When did you last have to stop suddenly? Answer in one German sentence.
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one sentence using anhalten.
- 2Use the Perfekt.
- 3Say when you stopped.