Before you start
Meet ausdrücken
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
aus- + drücken
- aus-
- outward, bringing something out
- drücken
- to press
Press an idea out so it can be put into words.
So ausdrücken means to express; to put into words.
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·drücken
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 clauseWir drücken unsere Meinung klar aus.We express our opinion clearly.
Subordinate clauseSie lächelt, weil sie ihre Freude ausdrückt.She smiles because she expresses her happiness.
Participle: ausgedrücktzu-infinitive: auszudrücken
Forms
How ausdrücken changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | drücke aus | drückte aus |
| du | drückst aus | drücktest aus |
| er/sie/es | drückt aus | drückte aus |
| wir | drücken aus | drückten aus |
| ihr | drückt aus | drücktet aus |
| Sie | drücken aus | drückten aus |
Partizip II ausgedrückt · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich drücke meine Freude mit einem Lächeln aus.I express my happiness with a smile.prefix goes to the end
- 2Sie hat ihren Dank mit einer Karte ausgedrückt.She expressed her thanks with a card.Perfekt with haben
- 3Er kann seine Gefühle nicht ausdrücken.He cannot express his feelings.modal verb with infinitive
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
ausdrücken + die Meinung
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use die Meinung as the thing expressed.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She expressed it clearlyklar.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When he was angrywütend, he couldn't express himself.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I am learninglernen GermanDeutsch because I want to express myself betterbesser.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The wordsdas Wort, die Wörter that she usedbenutzen expressed her feelingsdas Gefühl, die Gefühle wellgut.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He can express his opiniondie Meinung in GermanDeutsch.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
It is difficultschwer for me to express my thoughtsder Gedanke, die Gedanken in GermanDeutsch.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
How do you express your feelingsdas Gefühl, die Gefühle?
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:
ausdrücken + obwohl + die Meinung
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Put that clause's verb at the end.
- 3Express die Meinung in the main clause.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
How do you express yourself when you are happy?
Your challenge
- 1Answer with a wenn-clause.
- 2Use a reflexive form of the target verb.
- 3Say how you express yourself.