Before you start
Meet beitragen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
bei- + tragen
- bei-
- alongside or toward a shared effort
- tragen
- to carry
You carry something alongside others to support a shared effort.
So beitragen means to contribute; to help bring about.
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 tragen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
Separable verb: bei·tragen
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 clauseEr trägt jeden Monat Geld bei.He contributes money every month.
Subordinate clauseWir freuen uns, weil sie zum Erfolg beiträgt.We are happy because she contributes to the success.
Participle: beigetragenzu-infinitive: beizutragen
Forms
How beitragen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | trage bei | trug bei |
| du | trägst bei | trugst bei |
| er/sie/es | trägt bei | trug bei |
| wir | tragen bei | trugen bei |
| ihr | tragt bei | trugt bei |
| Sie | tragen bei | trugen bei |
Partizip II beigetragen · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Viele Menschen tragen Geld zum Fest bei.Many people contribute money to the festival.prefix goes to the end
- 2Sie hat viel zur Lösung beigetragen.She contributed a lot to the solution.Perfekt with haben
- 3Ich weiß, dass du viel zum Team beiträgst.I know that you contribute a lot to the team.verb at the end after dass
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
beitragen + der Erfolg
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Say what contributes to der Erfolg.
- 3Put the separable prefix at the end.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I contributed to it yesterday.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When the weatherdas Wetter was badschlecht, we stilltrotzdem contributed to the festivaldas Fest.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He stayed late because he wanted to contribute to the teamdas Team.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The womandie Frau who contributes to our classder Kurs is my teacherder Lehrer, die Lehrerin.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She can contribute to our teamdas Team.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He is gladfroh to contribute to the plander Plan.
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 contribute to this projectdas Projekt?
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:
beitragen + der Erfolg + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Say that the plan is simple.
- 3Say it contributes a lot to success.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
How do you contribute to your family or community? Answer in one German sentence.
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one sentence using beitragen.
- 2Say who or what you contribute to.