Before you start
Meet herausfinden
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
heraus- + finden
- heraus-
- outward, from inside to the outside
- finden
- to find
You find something and bring it out from what was hidden or unknown.
So herausfinden means to find out; to discover.
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 finden
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
Separable verb: heraus·finden
In a main clause the prefix heraus 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 findet den Namen später heraus.He finds out the name later.
Subordinate clauseIch frage, weil sie die Antwort herausfindet.I ask because she finds out the answer.
Participle: herausgefundenzu-infinitive: herauszufinden
Forms
How herausfinden changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | finde heraus | fand heraus |
| du | findest heraus | fandst heraus |
| er/sie/es | findet heraus | fand heraus |
| wir | finden heraus | fanden heraus |
| ihr | findet heraus | fandet heraus |
| Sie | finden heraus | fanden heraus |
Partizip II herausgefunden · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich finde die Antwort schnell heraus.I quickly find out the answer.prefix goes to the end
- 2Wir haben den Weg allein herausgefunden.We found out the way on our own.Perfekt with haben
- 3Sie weiß, dass er die Nummer herausfindet.She knows that he finds out the number.verb at the end after dass
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
herausfinden + der Preis
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use der Preis as the thing you find out.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I found it out yesterday.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When she found out the newsdie Nachricht, die Nachrichten, she calledanrufen me.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Because he wants to helphelfen us, he is finding out the answerdie Antwort.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The womandie Frau who found out the answerdie Antwort toldsagen it to me.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
We want to find out when the nextnächste busder Bus, die Busse leavesabfahren.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She hopeshoffen to find out the priceder Preis, die Preise before she buyskaufen it.
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 find out whether the doctorder Arzt, die Ärzte is at home?
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:
herausfinden + dass + der Zug
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Include a dass-clause about der Zug.
- 3Put the conjugated verb at the end of the dass-clause.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What would you like to find out about your town?
Your challenge
- 1Answer in one sentence using herausfinden.
- 2Say what you would like to find out about your town.