10 Sentences
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Before you start

Meet ansprechen

Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.

Build the meaning

an- + sprechen

an-
toward someone, making contact
sprechen
to speak

You speak toward someone to make contact with them.

So ansprechen means to address or speak to someone.

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 sprechen

Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.

Separable verb: an·sprechen

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 clauseWir sprechen heute den Arzt an.We speak to the doctor today.
Subordinate clauseSie lächelt, weil sie den neuen Kollegen anspricht.She smiles because she speaks to the new colleague.
Participle: angesprochenzu-infinitive: anzusprechen
Forms

How ansprechen changes

PronounPräsensPräteritum
ichspreche ansprach an
dusprichst ansprachst an
er/sie/esspricht ansprach an
wirsprechen ansprachen an
ihrsprecht anspracht an
Siesprechen ansprachen an

Partizip II angesprochen · Perfekt with haben

Three examples

  1. 1
    Ich spreche den Lehrer an.I speak to the teacher.prefix goes to the end
  2. 2
    Sie hat gestern ihren Nachbarn angesprochen.She spoke to her neighbor yesterday.Perfekt with haben
  3. 3
    Er bleibt ruhig, wenn er den Chef anspricht.He stays calm when he speaks to the boss.verb at the end after wenn