Before you start
Meet festsetzen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
fest- + setzen
- fest-
- firmly, so it stays in place
- setzen
- to put or set
You set something firmly in place so it is fixed or settled.
So festsetzen means to determine or fix.
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 setzen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
- einsetzento put in, insert
- durchsetzento carry through, enforce
- fortsetzento continue
- umsetzento move, to put into practice
- voraussetzenpresuppose, take for granted
- ansetzento position, estimate, fix
- aussetzento abandon
- zusammensetzento put together
Separable verb: fest·setzen
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 clauseIch setze den Termin heute fest.I set the date today.
Subordinate clauseSie bleibt, weil sie den Preis festsetzt.She stays because she sets the price.
Participle: festgesetztzu-infinitive: festzusetzen
Forms
How festsetzen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | setze fest | setzte fest |
| du | setzt fest | setztest fest |
| er/sie/es | setzt fest | setzte fest |
| wir | setzen fest | setzten fest |
| ihr | setzt fest | setztet fest |
| Sie | setzen fest | setzten fest |
Partizip II festgesetzt · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Die Polizei setzt den Mann fest.The police arrest the man.prefix goes to the end
- 2Wir haben den Preis festgesetzt.We set the price.Perfekt with haben
- 3Sie sagt, dass der Chef den Termin festsetzt.She says that the boss sets the date.verb at the end after dass
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
festsetzen + der Termin
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Make der Termin the thing you set.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
We set it for Mondayder Montag.
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 set the dateder Termin, everyonealle was happyglücklich.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She set a timedie Uhrzeit because her childrendas Kind, die Kinder were 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 timedie Uhrzeit that we set was too earlyfrüh for him.
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 a priceder Preis that everyone can paybezahlen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
They want to set the timedie Uhrzeit today so that we can planplanen the tripdie Reise.
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 dateder Termin for our meetingdas Treffen?
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:
festsetzen + die Uhrzeit + dass
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Include die Uhrzeit as the thing you set.
- 3Add a dass-clause with its verb at the end.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
When do you usually set a date for meeting friends?
Your challenge
- 1Answer in one sentence using festsetzen.
- 2Say when you usually set the date.