Before you start
Meet einholen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
ein- + holen
- ein-
- inward, toward a point of arrival or possession
- holen
- to fetch or bring
You bring someone or something within reach: catch up with them, or obtain information by asking for it.
So einholen means to catch up with; to obtain; to ask for.
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 holen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
Separable verb: ein·holen
In a main clause the prefix ein splits off and goes to the end. After weil, dass and other subordinating words, the verb stays in one piece at the end.
Main clauseIch hole zuerst den Preis ein.I first get the price.
Subordinate clauseSie wartet, bis wir den Rat einholen.She waits until we ask for advice.
Participle: eingeholtzu-infinitive: einzuholen
Forms
How einholen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | hole ein | holte ein |
| du | holst ein | holtest ein |
| er/sie/es | holt ein | holte ein |
| wir | holen ein | holten ein |
| ihr | holt ein | holtet ein |
| Sie | holen ein | holten ein |
Partizip II eingeholt · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Der Läufer holt den anderen ein.The runner catches up with the other one.prefix goes to the end
- 2Wir haben beim Arzt Rat eingeholt.We asked the doctor for advice.Perfekt with haben
- 3Sie fragt, ob sie noch mehr Informationen einholen muss.She asks whether she still has to get more information.verb at the end after ob
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
einholen + der Bus
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use der Bus as the direct object.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I caught up with him at the stationder Bahnhof.
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 trainder Zug was latespät, we caught up with the groupdie Gruppe.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She asked the teacherder Lehrer for adviceder Rat because she didn't know what to do.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The informationdie Information, die Informationen that we asked for was very usefulnützlich.
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 get permissiondie Erlaubnis from your parentsdie Eltern before the tripdie Reise.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He went to the officedas Büro to get informationdie Information about the courseder Kurs.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Have you already caught up with them?
Task 9 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
einholen + der Rat + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Put the conjugated verb at the end of that clause.
- 3Use einholen in the main clause to ask for advice.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
When would you ask someone for advice? Answer in one German sentence using *einholen*.
Your challenge
- 1Answer in one sentence using einholen.
- 2Use Konjunktiv II to say when you would ask for advice.