Before you start
Meet ausbreiten
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
aus- + breiten
- aus-
- outward, into an extended area
- breiten
- to spread or lay out
Spread or lay something out so it extends outward.
So ausbreiten means to spread; to spread out.
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·breiten
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 breitet die Karte auf dem Tisch aus.She spreads the map out on the table.
Subordinate clause…, weil sie die Karte auf dem Tisch ausbreitet.… because she spreads the map out on the table.
Participle: ausgebreitetzu-infinitive: auszubreiten
Forms
How ausbreiten changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | breite aus | breitete aus |
| du | breitest aus | breitetest aus |
| er/sie/es | breitet aus | breitete aus |
| wir | breiten aus | breiteten aus |
| ihr | breitet aus | breitetet aus |
| Sie | breiten aus | breiteten aus |
Partizip II ausgebreitet · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Das Feuer breitet sich schnell aus.The fire is spreading quickly.present with a split prefix
- 2Wir haben die Decke im Garten ausgebreitet.We spread the blanket out in the garden.Perfekt with haben
- 3…, weil sich das Wasser auf dem Boden ausbreitet.… because the water is spreading across the floor.verb at the end after weil
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
ausbreiten + die Decke
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Say where you spread die Decke.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I spread it on the tableder Tisch.
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 snowder Schnee spreads across the roaddie Straße, we stay at home.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The newsdie Nachricht spread quicklyschnell because everyone talked about it.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The blanketdie Decke that she spread on the floorder Boden is warmwarm.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The firedas Feuer can spread to the nextnächste roomdas Zimmer.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He triedversuchen to spread the mapdie Karte on the tableder Tisch.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Can the smellder Geruch spread through the wholeganz housedas Haus?
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:
ausbreiten + das Wasser + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Use the simple past in that clause.
- 3Add a main clause about how you reacted.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
Where have you seen water spread out?
Your challenge
- 1Answer in one sentence.
- 2Use ausbreiten in the Perfekt.