Before you start
Meet feststellen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
fest- + stellen
- fest-
- firmly, as a settled result
- stellen
- to put or set
You set something firmly in place as a fact.
So feststellen means to determine, establish, or notice.
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
- einstellento adjust, employ, stop
- 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: fest·stellen
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 clauseWir stellen den Grund heute fest.We determine the reason today.
Subordinate clauseSie bleibt hier, weil der Arzt die Krankheit feststellt.She stays here because the doctor detects the illness.
Participle: festgestelltzu-infinitive: festzustellen
Forms
How feststellen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | stelle fest | stellte fest |
| du | stellst fest | stelltest fest |
| er/sie/es | stellt fest | stellte fest |
| wir | stellen fest | stellten fest |
| ihr | stellt fest | stelltet fest |
| Sie | stellen fest | stellten fest |
Partizip II festgestellt · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Der Arzt stellt eine Krankheit fest.The doctor detects an illness.present, prefix at end
- 2Die Polizei hat den Namen festgestellt.The police established the name.Perfekt with haben
- 3Ich weiß, dass sie den Fehler feststellt.I know that she detects the mistake.verb at the end after dass
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
feststellen + der Fehler
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Say that you notice der Fehler.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I noticedbemerken it yesterdaygestern.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When she came homenach Hause kommen, she noticed that the doordie Tür was openoffen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She stayed homezu Hause bleiben because she noticed that her sonder Sohn was illkrank.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The teacherder Lehrer who knowskennen my brotherder Bruder noticed that he was tiredmüde.
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 find out whether the shopder Laden is opengeöffnet.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I triedversuchen to find out why the busder Bus was lateVerspätung haben.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Can you find out when the trainder Zug leavesabfahren?
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:
feststellen + der Arzt + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Use the simple past for feststellen.
- 3Say that she stayed at home.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What did you recently find out about your family, work, or hobbies?
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one sentence using feststellen.
- 2Say what you recently found out.