Before you start
Meet darstellen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
dar- + stellen
- dar-
- there, into view
- stellen
- to place
You place an image or idea there before someone so it can be seen or understood.
So darstellen means to depict, portray, or represent.
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 stellen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
- vorstellento introduce, imagine
- feststellento establish, detect
- einstellento adjust, employ, stop
- herstellento produce
- aufstellento put up, draw up
- anstellento employ, line up, get into mischief
- herausstellento emphasize, come to light
- abstellento turn off, shut down, park
Separable verb: dar·stellen
In a main clause the prefix dar 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 Künstler stellt die Stadt dar.The artist depicts the city.
Subordinate clauseIch bleibe, weil das Bild die Stadt darstellt.I’m staying because the picture depicts the city.
Participle: dargestelltzu-infinitive: darzustellen
Forms
How darstellen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | stelle dar | stellte dar |
| du | stellst dar | stelltest dar |
| er/sie/es | stellt dar | stellte dar |
| wir | stellen dar | stellten dar |
| ihr | stellt dar | stelltet dar |
| Sie | stellen dar | stellten dar |
Partizip II dargestellt · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Das Bild stellt einen Mann dar.The picture depicts a man.prefix goes to the end
- 2Sie hat ihre Idee klar dargestellt.She presented her idea clearly.Perfekt with haben
- 3Ich weiß, wie der Film das Leben darstellt.I know how the film portrays life.verb at the end
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
darstellen + der Mann + der Vater
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Say that der Mann portrays der Vater.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She portrayed him in the filmder Film.
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 playdas Theaterstück began, he portrayed the fatherder Vater, and everyonealle listened.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The picturedas Bild represents our old homedas Zuhause because it is importantwichtig to us.
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 portrays my motherdie Mutter is very kindnett.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He must portray a doctorder Arzt in the school playdas Schultheater.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She triesversuchen to portray the storydie Geschichte in a simpleeinfach picturedas Bild.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
How would you portray this roomdas Zimmer in a picturedas Bild?
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:
darstellen + obwohl + die Stadt + das Bild
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Put the verb at the end of that clause.
- 3Complete the sentence with a main clause.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What person or place would you like to portray in a picture?
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one German sentence.
- 2Use darstellen to say what you would like to portray.