Before you start
Meet ausbrechen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
All 2 meanings
- (prison) to break out
- (in laughter, tears, etc.) to break out
Build the meaning
aus- + brechen
- aus-
- out of an enclosed or contained place
- brechen
- to break
Something breaks through its boundary and gets out.
So ausbrechen means to break out or escape; to erupt.
A memory aid, not a rule: prefixes change meaning from verb to verb.
Learning approach inspired by this explanation in r/German.
Separable verb: aus·brechen
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 clauseDer Hund bricht aus dem Garten aus.The dog breaks out of the garden.
Subordinate clauseSie ist froh, dass der Hund ausbricht.She is glad that the dog breaks out.
Participle: ausgebrochenzu-infinitive: auszubrechen
Forms
How ausbrechen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | breche aus | brach aus |
| du | brichst aus | brachst aus |
| er/sie/es | bricht aus | brach aus |
| wir | brechen aus | brachen aus |
| ihr | brecht aus | bracht aus |
| Sie | brechen aus | brachen aus |
Partizip II ausgebrochen · Perfekt with sein
Three examples
- 1Das Feuer bricht plötzlich aus.The fire suddenly breaks out.prefix goes to the end
- 2Der Vogel ist aus dem Käfig ausgebrochen.The bird escaped from the cage.Perfekt with sein
- 3Wenn die Krankheit ausbricht, bleiben wir zu Hause.If the illness breaks out, we stay at home.verb at the end after wenn
Verb family
More verbs built on brechen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.