Before you start
Meet ausschalten
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
aus- + schalten
- aus-
- into an off or inactive state
- schalten
- to switch
You switch a device into its off state.
So ausschalten means to turn off; to switch off.
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 schalten
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
Separable verb: aus·schalten
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 clauseEr schaltet den Computer aus.He turns off the computer.
Subordinate clauseSie bleibt wach, weil sie das Licht nicht ausschaltet.She stays awake because she does not turn off the light.
Participle: ausgeschaltetzu-infinitive: auszuschalten
Forms
How ausschalten changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | schalte aus | schaltete aus |
| du | schaltest aus | schaltetest aus |
| er/sie/es | schaltet aus | schaltete aus |
| wir | schalten aus | schalteten aus |
| ihr | schaltet aus | schaltetet aus |
| Sie | schalten aus | schalteten aus |
Partizip II ausgeschaltet · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich schalte das Licht aus.I turn off the light.prefix goes to the end
- 2Wir haben den Fernseher ausgeschaltet.We turned off the television.Perfekt with haben
- 3Kannst du bitte das Radio ausschalten?Can you please turn off the radio?modal verb with infinitive
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
ausschalten + der Computer
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use der Computer as the object.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I turned it off.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When I got homenach Hause kommen, I turned off the lightdas Licht.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She turned off the radiodas Radio because the babydas Baby was sleepingschlafen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I turned off the computerder Computer that my brotherder Bruder had left onanlassen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
You must turn off your phonedas Handy before the lessonder Unterricht.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He forgotvergessen to turn off the lightdas Licht before he leftgehen.
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 turn it off for her?
Task 9 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
ausschalten + der Fernseher + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Use the present tense and put the main verb before its subject.
- 3Replace der Fernseher with an accusative pronoun in the main clause.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
When do you usually turn off the TV or your computer?
Your challenge
- 1Answer in one sentence using ausschalten.
- 2Use a wenn-clause to say when.