Before you start
Meet antreten
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
an- + treten
- an-
- toward a place or task; beginning an engagement
- treten
- to step
You step up to a task, position, or contest and begin taking part.
So antreten means to take up a position or duty; to begin; to compete.
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 treten
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
Separable verb: an·treten
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 treten um acht an.We report for duty at eight.
Subordinate clause…, weil wir um acht antreten.…, because we report for duty at eight.
Participle: **angetreten**zu-infinitive: **anzutreten**
Forms
How antreten changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | trete an | trat an |
| du | trittst an | tratst an |
| er/sie/es | tritt an | trat an |
| wir | treten an | traten an |
| ihr | tretet an | tratet an |
| Sie | treten an | traten an |
Partizip II angetreten · Perfekt with sein
Three examples
- 1Unser Team tritt heute gegen die andere Schule an.Our team is competing against the other school today.competing against someone
- 2Sie ist gestern ihre neue Arbeit angetreten.She started her new job yesterday.Perfekt with sein
- 3Er muss morgen früh zum Dienst antreten.He has to report for duty early tomorrow.modal verb with infinitive
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
antreten + der Wettbewerb
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Say who enters the competition.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I competed against him yesterday.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When we entered the racedas Rennen, our friends were already there.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She did not start her shiftdie Schicht because her child was illkrank.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The teamdas Team that competed against them won.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
We must start our tripdie Reise early tomorrow.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She is readybereit to start the competitionder Wettbewerb.
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 compete against them last year?
Task 9 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
antreten + der Dienst + dass
Your challenge
- 1Use a dass-clause.
- 2Say that he starts his service tomorrow.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
Have you ever started a new job? Answer in one German sentence.
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one sentence in the Perfekt.
- 2Say when you started a new job.