Before you start
Meet aufgehen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
auf- + gehen
- auf-
- upward or into an open state
- gehen
- to go
Something goes upward or moves into an open state.
So aufgehen means to rise; to open.
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 gehen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
- ausgehento go out, assume
- eingehento deal with, give attention
- weitergehento go on
- angehento concern, go on
- zurückgehento go back, decrease
- umgehento treat, handle
- hingehento go there
- zugehento approach, close
Separable verb: auf·gehen
In a main clause the prefix auf splits off and goes to the end. After weil, dass and other subordinating words, the verb stays in one piece at the end.
Main clauseDer Laden geht um acht Uhr auf.The shop opens at eight o’clock.
Subordinate clauseIch bleibe hier, weil die Tür aufgeht.I’ll stay here because the door is opening.
Participle: aufgegangenzu-infinitive: aufzugehen
Forms
How aufgehen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | gehe auf | ging auf |
| du | gehst auf | gingst auf |
| er/sie/es | geht auf | ging auf |
| wir | gehen auf | gingen auf |
| ihr | geht auf | gingt auf |
| Sie | gehen auf | gingen auf |
Partizip II aufgegangen · Perfekt with sein
Three examples
- 1Die Sonne geht jeden Morgen auf.The sun rises every morning.prefix goes to the end
- 2Die Tür ist plötzlich aufgegangen.The door suddenly opened.Perfekt with sein
- 3Ich sehe, dass die Sonne aufgeht.I see that the sun is rising.verb at the end after dass
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
aufgehen + die Tür
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Make die Tür the subject.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
It has alreadyschon opened, so we can go insidehinein.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When the sundie Sonne rose, we were already on the trainder Zug.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The doordie Tür opened because the windder Wind was strongstark.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The windowdas Fenster that opened was very oldalt.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The windowdas Fenster can open by itselfvon allein.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I am happyfroh to see the sundie Sonne rise.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Why didn’t the doordie Tür open?
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:
aufgehen + die Sonne + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Use the simple past.
- 3Put the main-clause verb before its subject.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What time does the sun rise where you live?
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one sentence about where you live.
- 2Use aufgehen in the present tense.