Before you start
Meet ausdehnen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
aus- + dehnen
- aus-
- outward, beyond an existing boundary
- dehnen
- to stretch
To stretch something outward so it takes up more space or reaches farther.
So ausdehnen means to extend; to expand.
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·dehnen
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 Laden dehnt seine Öffnungszeit aus.The shop extends its opening hours.
Subordinate clause…, weil sich der Weg bis zum Wald ausdehnt.…, because the path extends as far as the forest.
Participle: ausgedehntzu-infinitive: auszudehnen
Forms
How ausdehnen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | dehne aus | dehnte aus |
| du | dehnst aus | dehntest aus |
| er/sie/es | dehnt aus | dehnte aus |
| wir | dehnen aus | dehnten aus |
| ihr | dehnt aus | dehntet aus |
| Sie | dehnen aus | dehnten aus |
Partizip II ausgedehnt · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Die Stadt dehnt sich nach Norden aus.The city is expanding northward.present with separable prefix
- 2Wir haben den Urlaub um zwei Tage ausgedehnt.We extended the vacation by two days.Perfekt with haben
- 3Sie will den Weg bis zum Haus ausdehnen.She wants to extend the path to the house.modal verb plus infinitive
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
ausdehnen + das Angebot
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use das Angebot as the thing being expanded.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
They extendedto extend it yesterdaygestern.
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 rainder Regen startedto start, we extended our walkder Spaziergang.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She extended her holidayder Urlaub because the weatherdas Wetter was goodgut.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The shopder Laden expanded the rangedas Angebot that manyviel peopledie Leute likedgefallen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
They planto plan to extend their tripdie Reise.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Could they extend the gardender Garten?
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Could the holidayder Urlaub be extended by one dayder Tag?
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:
ausdehnen + die Öffnungszeiten + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Use die Öffnungszeiten as the thing being expanded.
- 2Add an obwohl-clause with its verb at the end.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What would you like to extend in your life, and why?
Your challenge
- 1Answer in one sentence using ausdehnen.
- 2Use würde to say what you would like to extend.
- 3Give a reason with a weil-clause.