Before you start
Meet ausbauen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
aus- + bauen
- aus-
- outward, into a fuller or more developed state
- bauen
- to build
Build something out further so it becomes larger or more developed.
So ausbauen means to expand, extend, or improve.
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 bauen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
Separable verb: aus·bauen
In a main clause the prefix aus splits off and goes to the end. After weil, dass and other subordinating words, the verb stays in one piece at the end.
Main clauseSie baut den Balkon aus.She is extending the balcony.
Subordinate clause…, weil sie den Balkon ausbaut.… because she is extending the balcony.
Participle: ausgebautzu-infinitive: auszubauen
Forms
How ausbauen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | baue aus | baute aus |
| du | baust aus | bautest aus |
| er/sie/es | baut aus | baute aus |
| wir | bauen aus | bauten aus |
| ihr | baut aus | bautet aus |
| Sie | bauen aus | bauten aus |
Partizip II ausgebaut · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Die Stadt baut die Straße aus.The city is expanding the road.prefix goes to the end
- 2Wir haben unser Haus ausgebaut.We extended our house.Perfekt with haben
- 3Er muss den alten Motor ausbauen.He has to remove the old engine.verb after a modal
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
ausbauen + das Bad
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use das Bad as the object.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
We have expanded it for them.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When they expanded the housedas Haus, we livedwohnen with them.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She is expanding the kitchendie Küche because the familydie Familie needs more spaceder Platz.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The roomdas Zimmer that they expanded is now very brighthell.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
We want to expand the housedas Haus, but we don't have enough moneydas Geld.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He savedsparen moneydas Geld to expand the apartmentdie Wohnung.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Which partder Teil of the housedas Haus are you expanding?
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:
ausbauen + dass + das Haus
Your challenge
- 1Use ausbauen in a dass-clause.
- 2Put the conjugated verb at the end of that clause.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What would you like to expand or improve at home? Answer in one German sentence using the verb.
Your challenge
- 1Answer with ausbauen in the infinitive.
- 2Use Konjunktiv II to say what you would like to do.