Before you start
Meet eintreffen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
ein- + treffen
- ein-
- inward, into a place
- treffen
- to meet or reach
Someone or something comes in and reaches its destination.
So eintreffen means to arrive; to occur; to come true.
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 treffen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
Separable verb: ein·treffen
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 clauseDer Bus trifft heute spät ein.The bus arrives late today.
Subordinate clauseSie sagt, dass der Bus bald eintrifft.She says that the bus will arrive soon.
Participle: eingetroffenzu-infinitive: einzutreffen
Forms
How eintreffen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | treffe ein | traf ein |
| du | triffst ein | trafst ein |
| er/sie/es | trifft ein | traf ein |
| wir | treffen ein | trafen ein |
| ihr | trefft ein | traft ein |
| Sie | treffen ein | trafen ein |
Partizip II eingetroffen · Perfekt with sein
Three examples
- 1Der Zug trifft um acht ein.The train arrives at eight.prefix goes to the end
- 2Der Zug ist pünktlich eingetroffen.The train arrived on time.Perfekt with sein
- 3Ich hoffe, dass der Zug bald eintrifft.I hope the train arrives soon.verb at the end after dass
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
eintreffen + der Zug
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use der Zug as the subject.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He arrived latespät.
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 busder Bus arrived, we went home.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I was happyfroh because her messagedie Nachricht arrived todayheute.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The packagedas Paket that arrived yesterdaygestern is for them.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The guestsder Gast, die Gäste may arrive laterspäter.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
It is importantwichtig to arrive on timepünktlich.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When did your friendsder Freund, die Freunde arrive?
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:
eintreffen + die Nachricht + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Put that clause's verb at the end.
- 3Use die Nachricht as the subject of eintreffen.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What is the most important thing you are waiting to arrive? Answer in one German sentence.
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one German sentence using eintreffen.
- 2Name something you are waiting to arrive.