Before you start
Meet festlegen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
fest- + legen
- fest-
- firmly, into a fixed position or state
- legen
- to lay or place
You lay something down firmly so its position or terms are fixed.
So festlegen means to determine, decide, or lay down.
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 legen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
Separable verb: fest·legen
In a main clause the prefix fest splits off and goes to the end. After weil, dass and other subordinating words, the verb stays in one piece at the end.
Main clauseEr legt den Preis jetzt fest.He is setting the price now.
Subordinate clause…, weil sie den Preis festlegt.…, because she is setting the price.
Participle: festgelegtzu-infinitive: festzulegen
Forms
How festlegen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | lege fest | legte fest |
| du | legst fest | legtest fest |
| er/sie/es | legt fest | legte fest |
| wir | legen fest | legten fest |
| ihr | legt fest | legtet fest |
| Sie | legen fest | legten fest |
Partizip II festgelegt · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Wir legen heute den Termin fest.We are setting the date today.prefix goes to the end
- 2Sie haben gestern die Regeln festgelegt.They laid down the rules yesterday.Perfekt with haben
- 3Ich muss festlegen, wann wir gehen.I have to decide when we are leaving.infinitive with a modal
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
festlegen + der Termin
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use der Termin.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
We have set it for Fridayder Freitag.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When we were on holidayder Urlaub, we set the datedas Datum togethergemeinsam.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
We set the timedie Uhrzeit because everyone was freefrei.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The dayder Tag that we set is goodgut for everyone.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
We must set the rulesdie Regel, die Regeln before the gamedas Spiel starts.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She wants to set a clearklar goaldas Ziel to savesparen timedie Zeit.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Could you set a newneu dateder Termin?
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:
festlegen + der Plan + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Use a pronoun for der Plan.
- 3Use the present tense.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
When do you usually decide on a date to meet your friends?
Your challenge
- 1Answer in one sentence using the target verb.
- 2Say when you usually decide on a date.