Before you start
Meet aufkommen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
auf- + kommen
- auf-
- upward or into view
- kommen
- to come
Something comes up into view or begins to arise; in the sense of paying, one comes up with or covers the cost.
So aufkommen means to arise, come up, or pay for.
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 kommen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
- ankommento arrive
- vorkommento happen, occur, seem
- zurückkommento return
- hereinkommento come in
- herauskommento come out
- zukommento come towards, be in store
- herkommento come here
- entgegenkommento come to meet, accommodate
Separable verb: auf·kommen
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 clauseBei dem Treffen kommt ein Problem auf.A problem comes up at the meeting.
Subordinate clauseSie bleibt ruhig, weil kein Streit aufkommt.She stays calm because no argument arises.
Participle: aufgekommenzu-infinitive: aufzukommen
Forms
How aufkommen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | komme auf | kam auf |
| du | kommst auf | kamst auf |
| er/sie/es | kommt auf | kam auf |
| wir | kommen auf | kamen auf |
| ihr | kommt auf | kamt auf |
| Sie | kommen auf | kamen auf |
Partizip II aufgekommen · Perfekt with sein
Three examples
- 1Im Gespräch kommt eine wichtige Frage auf.An important question comes up during the conversation.prefix goes to the end
- 2Der Wind ist gestern plötzlich aufgekommen.The wind suddenly came up yesterday.Perfekt with sein
- 3Wir müssen für die Kosten aufkommen.We have to pay for the costs.pay for something
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
aufkommen + die Frage
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use die Frage as the subject.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
A problemdas Problem came up, but we solvedlösen it quicklyschnell.
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 questiondie Frage came up, I was very quietruhig.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
My parentsdie Eltern paid for the tripdie Reise because I had no moneydas Geld.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The mander Mann who paid for our hoteldas Hotel is my uncleder Onkel.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
We have to pay for the ticketsdie Karte, die Karten ourselves.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She promisedversprechen to pay for dinnerdas Abendessen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Who would pay for the fooddas Essen if we forgotvergessen our moneydas Geld?
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:
aufkommen + das Problem + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Use das Problem as the subject.
- 3Use the simple past for aufkommen.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What kind of problems often come up at home?
Your challenge
- 1Answer in one sentence using aufkommen.
- 2Say what kind of problem comes up at home.