Before you start
Meet aufsuchen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
auf- + suchen
- auf-
- toward a destination or target
- suchen
- to search for
You search toward a particular person or place and go there to find them.
So aufsuchen means to seek out; to visit.
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 suchen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
Separable verb: auf·suchen
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 clauseEr sucht oft den Park auf.He often goes to the park.
Subordinate clauseSie bleibt zu Hause, weil sie heute den Arzt aufsucht.She is staying home because she is seeing the doctor today.
Participle: aufgesuchtzu-infinitive: aufzusuchen
Forms
How aufsuchen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | suche auf | suchte auf |
| du | suchst auf | suchtest auf |
| er/sie/es | sucht auf | suchte auf |
| wir | suchen auf | suchten auf |
| ihr | sucht auf | suchtet auf |
| Sie | suchen auf | suchten auf |
Partizip II aufgesucht · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich suche heute den Arzt auf.I’m going to see the doctor today.present, prefix at the end
- 2Sie hat gestern ihre Freundin aufgesucht.She visited her friend yesterday.Perfekt with haben
- 3Wenn du krank bist, solltest du einen Arzt aufsuchen.If you’re ill, you should see a doctor.verb after a modal
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
aufsuchen + der Arzt
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use der Arzt as the direct object.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I visited him yesterdaygestern.
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Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When she feels sickkrank, she visits the doctorder Arzt.
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Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He visited her because she was aloneallein.
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Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I visited the womandie Frau who liveswohnen next doornebenan.
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Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
You should visit a doctorder Arzt soonbald.
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Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She decidedbeschließen to visit her parentsdie Eltern.
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Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Would you visit me if I were illkrank?
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:
aufsuchen + der Chef + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Put the conjugated verb at the end of that clause.
- 3Use a pronoun for der Chef as the direct object.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
Who do you visit when you need help?
Your challenge
- 1Answer in one German sentence using the verb.
- 2Use a wenn-clause to say when you visit someone.