Before you start
Meet anstehen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
an- + stehen
- an-
- at or up to a particular point
- stehen
- to stand
People stand at a point, waiting their turn in a line.
So anstehen means to queue; to wait in line.
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 stehen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
Separable verb: an·stehen
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 clauseDie Gäste stehen vor dem Eingang an.The guests are queuing in front of the entrance.
Subordinate clauseSie warten, weil sie vor dem Laden anstehen.They are waiting because they are queuing in front of the shop.
Participle: angestandenzu-infinitive: anzustehen
Forms
How anstehen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | stehe an | stand an |
| du | stehst an | standest an |
| er/sie/es | steht an | stand an |
| wir | stehen an | standen an |
| ihr | steht an | standet an |
| Sie | stehen an | standen an |
Partizip II angestanden · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Vor dem Kino stehen viele Leute an.Many people are lining up in front of the cinema.prefix goes to the end
- 2Wir haben lange angestanden.We waited in line for a long time.Perfekt with haben
- 3Ich weiß, dass wir hier anstehen müssen.I know that we have to queue here.verb at the end after dass
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
an·stehen + die Kasse
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Say where you are queuing.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I have queued for it at the stationder Bahnhof.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When we queued at the bakerydie Bäckerei, the shopder Laden opened.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I am queuing outsidedraußen because the shop is busyvoll.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The woman who is queuing with us is my neighborder Nachbar, die Nachbarin.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
You have to queue here if you want breaddas Brot.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He came earlyfrüh to avoid having to queuenicht anstehen müssen for the ticketsdie Karte, die Karten.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Would you queue for an hourdie Stunde for this concertdas Konzert?
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:
an·stehen + obwohl + der Regen
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Use the simple past.
- 3Say where you queued.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
When did you last queue, and where were you?
Your challenge
- 1Answer in one sentence using the Perfekt.
- 2Say when and where you queued.