Before you start
Meet anschließen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
All 2 meanings
- (transitive) to connect, to attach
- (reflexive) to join [with dative ‘a cause, a side, etc.’]
Build the meaning
an- + schließen
- an-
- toward or onto something
- schließen
- to close
Close something onto another thing so the two become joined.
So anschließen means to connect or join.
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·schließen
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 schließe die Lampe an.I connect the lamp.
Subordinate clause…, weil er den Bildschirm anschließt.… because he connects the screen.
Participle: angeschlossenzu-infinitive: anzuschließen
Forms
How anschließen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | schließe | schloss |
| du | schließt | schlossest |
| er/sie/es | schließt | schloss |
| wir | schließen | schlossen |
| ihr | schließt | schlosst |
| Sie | schließen | schlossen |
Partizip II angeschlossen · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich schließe das Handy an den Strom an.I connect the phone to the power.connect a device
- 2Wir haben das Fahrrad am Zaun angeschlossen.We locked the bicycle to the fence.Perfekt with haben
- 3Sie sagt, dass er sich der Gruppe anschließt.She says that he is joining the group.verb at the end after dass
Verb family
More verbs built on schließen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.