Before you start
Meet einstellen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
ein- + stellen
- ein-
- into a place, position, or arrangement
- stellen
- to put or place
Putting something into position can mean setting it, or assigning someone a place; the sense “to discontinue” is an established extension.
So einstellen means to adjust or set; to hire; to discontinue or stop.
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
- darstellento depict, portray
- feststellento establish, detect
- 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: ein·stellen
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 stelle den Wecker ein.I set the alarm clock.
Subordinate clauseSie bleibt hier, weil sie den Wecker einstellt.She stays here because she is setting the alarm clock.
Participle: eingestelltzu-infinitive: einzustellen
Forms
How einstellen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | stelle ein | stellte ein |
| du | stellst ein | stelltest ein |
| er/sie/es | stellt ein | stellte ein |
| wir | stellen ein | stellten ein |
| ihr | stellt ein | stelltet ein |
| Sie | stellen ein | stellten ein |
Partizip II eingestellt · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich stelle die Heizung ein.I adjust the heating.adjusting a setting
- 2Die Firma hat ihn eingestellt.The company hired him.Perfekt with haben
- 3Der Laden stellt die Arbeit ein, wenn es spät wird.The shop stops work when it gets late.stopping an activity
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
einstellen + die Heizung
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Say what temperature you set the heating to.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
They hired her last weekletzte Woche.
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 companydie Firma needed helpdie Hilfe, it hired him.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
We need to set the clockdie Uhr because it is five minutes slowfünf Minuten nachgehend.
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 hired him works here.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Can you set the alarmder Wecker for six?
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I forgot to set the temperaturedie Temperatur before I left.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Would you hire him for your shopder Laden?
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:
einstellen + der Betrieb + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Use the simple past for einstellen.
- 2Start a second clause with obwohl.
- 3Say the business was still making a profit.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
How do you usually set your alarm clock?
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one sentence using einstellen.
- 2Say what time you set your alarm for.