Before you start
Meet ausgleichen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
aus- + gleichen
- aus-
- to completion or into a state of equilibrium
- gleichen
- to resemble or be equal
Bring differences fully into equality so they balance out.
So ausgleichen means to balance, offset, or make up for.
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·gleichen
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 gleicht den Preis aus.She balances out the price.
Subordinate clauseIch bleibe, weil er den Fehler ausgleicht.I’m staying because he is correcting the mistake.
Participle: ausgeglichenzu-infinitive: auszugleichen
Forms
How ausgleichen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | gleiche aus | glich aus |
| du | gleichst aus | glichst aus |
| er/sie/es | gleicht aus | glich aus |
| wir | gleichen aus | glichen aus |
| ihr | gleicht aus | glicht aus |
| Sie | gleichen aus | glichen aus |
Partizip II ausgeglichen · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Die Bank gleicht den Verlust aus.The bank makes up for the loss.present tense, prefix at end
- 2Er hat den Fehler ausgeglichen.He corrected the mistake.Perfekt with haben
- 3Wir müssen den Unterschied ausgleichen.We have to even out the difference.modal verb with infinitive
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
ausgleichen + der Preis
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Say that a discount offsets the higher price.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The extrazusätzlich moneydas Geld has balanced it out.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When I workedarbeiten lessweniger, freekostenlos mealsdie Mahlzeit, die Mahlzeiten balanced out the lower payder niedrigere Lohn.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She works Saturdayssamstags because she wants to make up for her missed hoursdie fehlenden Stunden during the weekdie Woche.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The moneydas Geld he earnsverdienen at the weekenddas Wochenende balances the costdie Kosten of his hobbydas Hobby.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
We must balance the costsdie Kosten before we bookbuchen the 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:
She tookannehmen a secondzweite jobder Job to balance the higherhöher rentdie Miete.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
How can I balance workdie Arbeit and familydie Familie?
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:
ausgleichen + die Kosten + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Say that he earns little.
- 3Use the main clause to say he offsets the car costs.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
How do you balance work and free time?
Your challenge
- 1Answer in one sentence using the target verb.
- 2Say how you balance work and free time.