Before you start
Meet aussetzen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
aus- + setzen
- aus-
- out of its usual place or course
- setzen
- to set or place
You set something out of its usual place or course, which can suggest leaving it aside, pausing it, or exposing it.
So aussetzen means to skip, suspend, abandon, or expose to.
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 setzen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
- einsetzento put in, insert
- durchsetzento carry through, enforce
- fortsetzento continue
- umsetzento move, to put into practice
- voraussetzenpresuppose, take for granted
- ansetzento position, estimate, fix
- zusammensetzento put together
- absetzento take off, dismiss
Separable verb: aus·setzen
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 setzt den Kaffee aus.She skips coffee.
Subordinate clauseIch bleibe zu Hause, weil ich das Training aussetze.I’m staying home because I’m skipping training.
Participle: ausgesetztzu-infinitive: auszusetzen
Forms
How aussetzen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | setze aus | setzte aus |
| du | setzt aus | setztest aus |
| er/sie/es | setzt aus | setzte aus |
| wir | setzen aus | setzten aus |
| ihr | setzt aus | setztet aus |
| Sie | setzen aus | setzten aus |
Partizip II ausgesetzt · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich setze heute das Training aus.I’m skipping training today.prefix goes to the end
- 2Wir haben den Hund im Wald ausgesetzt.We abandoned the dog in the forest.Perfekt with haben
- 3Wenn der Regen aussetzt, gehen wir nach Hause.When the rain stops, we’ll go home.verb at the end after wenn
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
aussetzen + das Training
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Say when the training pauses.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
We skippedauslassen, aussetzen 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 stopped, we wentgehen homenach Hause.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She skipped classder Unterricht because she was illkrank.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The dogder Hund they abandonedaussetzen was foundfinden in the parkder Park.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
You should not expose him to this dangerdie Gefahr.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I decidedbeschließen to skip trainingdas Training todayheute.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Why did you abandonaussetzen the dogder Hund in the parkder Park?
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:
aussetzen + obwohl + die Kälte
Your challenge
- 1Use aussetzen with a person as its object.
- 2Start an obwohl-clause and put its verb at the end.
- 3Say that he was tired.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What activity would you skip if you had too much work?
Your challenge
- 1Answer with a wenn-clause.
- 2Use aussetzen for an activity you would skip.