Before you start
Meet annehmen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
All 7 meanings
- (transitive) to assume, to suppose (as given)
- (transitive) to take on, to assume (a role, form, etc.)
- (reflexive) to take care of, to take on [with genitive ‘a duty, a responsibility’]
- (transitive) to reach, to attain (some degree)
- (transitive) to accept (help, an offer, an invitation, a challenge, a gift, etc.)
- (transitive) to adopt (a child)
Build the meaning
an- + nehmen
- an-
- toward oneself or into one’s sphere
- nehmen
- to take
Take something toward yourself, either receiving it or taking it as true for the moment.
So annehmen means to accept; to assume.
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·nehmen
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 nimmt das Angebot an.She accepts the offer.
Subordinate clause…, weil er den Vorschlag annimmt.… because he accepts the suggestion.
Participle: angenommenzu-infinitive: anzunehmen
Forms
How annehmen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | nehme an | nahm an |
| du | nimmst an | nahmst an |
| er/sie/es | nimmt an | nahm an |
| wir | nehmen an | nahmen an |
| ihr | nehmt an | nahmt an |
| Sie | nehmen an | nahmen an |
Partizip II angenommen · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Er nimmt den neuen Job an.He accepts the new job.accepting a job
- 2Wir haben das Paket angenommen.We accepted the package.Perfekt with haben
- 3Ich nehme an, dass er heute kommt.I assume he is coming today.meaning “to assume”
Verb family
More verbs built on nehmen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
- aufnehmento record, include
- zunehmento increase
- einnehmento take up, in
- vornehmento plan
- abnehmento decrease, reduce
- teilnehmento take part
- wahrnehmento perceive, detect
- mitnehmento take along