Before you start
Meet beibringen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
bei- + bringen
- bei-
- to someone, as something added or provided
- bringen
- to bring
You bring knowledge to someone so they can learn it.
So beibringen means to teach; to instruct.
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 bringen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
Separable verb: bei·bringen
In a main clause the prefix bei splits off and goes to the end. After weil, dass and other subordinating words, the verb stays in one piece at the end.
Main clauseDer Lehrer bringt den Kindern ein Lied bei.The teacher teaches the children a song.
Subordinate clauseIch weiß, dass mein Vater mir Fahrradfahren beibringt.I know that my father is teaching me to ride a bike.
Participle: beigebrachtzu-infinitive: beizubringen
Forms
How beibringen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | bringe bei | brachte bei |
| du | bringst bei | brachtest bei |
| er/sie/es | bringt bei | brachte bei |
| wir | bringen bei | brachten bei |
| ihr | bringt bei | brachtet bei |
| Sie | bringen bei | brachten bei |
Partizip II beigebracht · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich bringe meinem Bruder Deutsch bei.I teach my brother German.prefix goes to the end
- 2Meine Mutter hat mir Schwimmen beigebracht.My mother taught me to swim.Perfekt with haben
- 3Sie lernt, weil ihr Vater ihr das Kochen beibringt.She is learning because her father is teaching her to cook.verb at the end after weil
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
beibringen + der Vater + das Schwimmen
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Say who learns to swim.
- 3Use der Vater as the teacher.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She taught it to him 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 I was a childdas Kind, my motherdie Mutter taught me to cookkochen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He came homedas Zuhause latespät because his teacherder Lehrer · die Lehrerin was teaching him GermanDeutsch.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I know a womandie Frau who taught her childrendas Kind, die Kinder to swimschwimmen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
My brotherder Bruder can teach you this gamedas Spiel.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She is happyfroh to teach her daughterdie Tochter to swimschwimmen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Could you teach me how to usebenutzen this phonedas Handy?
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:
beibringen + der Lehrer + dass
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use der Lehrer as the teacher.
- 3Add a dass-clause with its verb at the end.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What skill would you like to teach a friend?
Your challenge
- 1Answer in one sentence using beibringen.
- 2Say what skill you would teach a friend.