Before you start
Meet aufhalten
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
auf- + halten
- auf-
- a sense of holding something up or keeping it from moving on
- halten
- to hold
Hold something up so it cannot continue on its way.
So aufhalten means to stop, hold up, or delay.
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 halten
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
Separable verb: auf·halten
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 clauseIch halte dich kurz auf.I’ll hold you up briefly.
Subordinate clauseWeil der Bus uns aufhält, kommen wir später.Because the bus is holding us up, we’ll arrive later.
Participle: aufgehaltenzu-infinitive: aufzuhalten
Forms
How aufhalten changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | halte auf | hielt auf |
| du | hältst auf | hieltest auf |
| er/sie/es | hält auf | hielt auf |
| wir | halten auf | hielten auf |
| ihr | haltet auf | hieltet auf |
| Sie | halten auf | hielten auf |
Partizip II aufgehalten · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Der Bus hält uns heute auf.The bus is holding us up today.prefix goes to the end
- 2Die Polizei hat den Mann aufgehalten.The police stopped the man.Perfekt with haben
- 3Ich gehe, weil ich dich nicht aufhalten will.I’m leaving because I don’t want to hold you up.verb at the end after weil
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
aufhalten + der Zug
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Include der Zug as the subject.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The rainder Regen held us up.
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 teacherder Lehrer, die Lehrerin stopped him, he was talking on the phonetelefonieren.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She stayed latelange bleiben because a phone callder Anruf held her up.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The man who stopped me was 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:
We must not hold them up.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He triedversuchen not to hold her up.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Where did you stay during the holidayder Urlaub?
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:
aufhalten + der Regen + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Say what happened after the rain held you up.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What usually holds you up when you travel?
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one sentence using aufhalten.
- 2Say what usually causes the delay.