Before you start
Meet anschauen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
an- + schauen
- an-
- toward or focused on a target
- schauen
- to look
You direct your looking toward something and keep your attention on it.
So anschauen means to look at; to watch.
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·schauen
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 clauseEr schaut die Nachrichten an.He watches the news.
Subordinate clauseIch bleibe hier, weil ich mir das Spiel anschaue.I’m staying here because I’m watching the game.
Participle: angeschautzu-infinitive: anzuschauen
Forms
How anschauen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | schaue an | schaute an |
| du | schaust an | schautest an |
| er/sie/es | schaut an | schaute an |
| wir | schauen an | schauten an |
| ihr | schaut an | schautet an |
| Sie | schauen an | schauten an |
Partizip II angeschaut · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich schaue heute einen Film an.I’m watching a movie today.prefix goes to the end
- 2Wir haben gestern das Bild angeschaut.We looked at the picture yesterday.Perfekt with haben
- 3Sie schaut das Foto an, weil es schön ist.She looks at the photo because it is beautiful.verb at the end after weil
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
anschauen + der Film
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use der Film as the object.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I watched it yesterdaygestern.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When she arrivedankommen, we watched the filmder Film.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She looks at the dogder Hund because it is cutesüß.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I watched the photodas Foto that you sentschicken me.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She wants to look at the menudie Speisekarte before orderingbestellen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I have timedie Zeit to look at the photosdas Foto, die Fotos with her.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Did you look at the newneu housedas Haus?
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:
anschauen + der Film + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Say that you already know der Film.
- 3Use an accusative pronoun for der Film in the main clause.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What do you like looking at in your free time?
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one German sentence.
- 2Say what you like looking at in your free time.