Before you start
Meet anpassen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
All 2 meanings
- (transitive) to adapt, to adjust
- (reflexive) to adapt to, to adjust to
Build the meaning
an- + passen
- an-
- toward or into contact with something
- passen
- to fit
You make something fit with or suit what it is being matched to.
So anpassen means to adjust; to adapt.
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·passen
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 passe den Sitz an.I adjust the seat.
Subordinate clause…, weil ich den Sitz anpasse.…, because I adjust the seat.
Participle: angepasstzu-infinitive: anzupassen
Forms
How anpassen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | passe an | passte an |
| du | passt an | passtest an |
| er/sie/es | passt an | passte an |
| wir | passen an | passten an |
| ihr | passt an | passtet an |
| Sie | passen an | passten an |
Partizip II angepasst · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich passe die Uhr an.I adjust the clock.prefix goes to the end
- 2Wir haben den Plan angepasst.We adapted the plan.Perfekt with haben
- 3Du musst dich an die neue Schule anpassen.You have to adapt to the new school.reflexive verb with modal
Verb family
More verbs built on passen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.