Before you start
Meet auskommen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
aus- + kommen
- aus-
- out of a situation, with a sense of reaching an outcome
- kommen
- to come
Imagine coming through a situation with what you have, or reaching a workable state with someone.
So auskommen means to get by, manage, or get along.
A memory aid, not a rule: prefixes change meaning from verb to verb.
Learning approach inspired by this explanation in r/German.
Verb family
More verbs built on kommen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
- ankommento arrive
- vorkommento happen, occur, seem
- zurückkommento return
- hereinkommento come in
- herauskommento come out
- zukommento come towards, be in store
- herkommento come here
- aufkommento come up, arise, pay for
Separable verb: aus·kommen
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 kommt ohne Hilfe aus.She manages without help.
Subordinate clauseIch weiß, dass er mit wenig Geld auskommt.I know that he gets by with little money.
Participle: ausgekommenzu-infinitive: auszukommen
Forms
How auskommen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | komme aus | kam aus |
| du | kommst aus | kamst aus |
| er/sie/es | kommt aus | kam aus |
| wir | kommen aus | kamen aus |
| ihr | kommt aus | kamt aus |
| Sie | kommen aus | kamen aus |
Partizip II ausgekommen · Perfekt with sein
Three examples
- 1Ich komme gut mit meiner Schwester aus.I get on well with my sister.get on with someone
- 2Wir sind mit wenig Geld ausgekommen.We got by with little money.Perfekt with sein
- 3Er bleibt zu Hause, weil er allein auskommt.He stays at home because he manages on his own.verb at the end after weil
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
auskommen + das Geld
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use mit with das Geld.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
We got by with it last weekletzte Woche.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When my brotherder Bruder livedwohnen aloneallein, he got by with little moneydas Geld.
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Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I don't get along with my neighborder Nachbar because he is often loudlaut.
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Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The peopledie Leute I get along with livewohnen nearbyin der Nähe.
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 get by without a cardas Auto.
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 difficultschwierig to get by on this moneydas Geld.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Did you get along with them at schooldie Schule?
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:
auskommen + die Nachbarn + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Include an obwohl-clause.
- 2Use the present tense.
- 3Replace die Nachbarn with a dative pronoun after mit.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What do you usually get by with when you travel?
Your challenge
- 1Answer in one sentence.
- 2Use the present tense.
- 3Say what you get by with.