Before you start
Meet einstellen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
All 7 meanings
- (transitive) to hire (to add someone to a position of employment) [with accusative]
- (transitive) to adjust, to set [with accusative]
- (reflexive, with auf) to prepare, to adjust, to adapt to something or someone [with accusative]
- (reflexive) to appear, to turn up, to come
- (transitive) to cease, to stop [with accusative]
- (transitive, architecture) to build in a way fusing with other buildings or the whole project
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.
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
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