Before you start
Meet hinweisen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
hin- + weisen
- hin-
- toward a target or in a particular direction
- weisen
- to point or direct
You direct someone’s attention toward a particular thing.
So hinweisen means to point out; to draw attention to.
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 weisen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
Separable verb: hin·weisen
In a main clause the prefix hin 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 Plan weist auf ein Problem hin.The plan points to a problem.
Subordinate clauseSie sagt, dass der Brief auf den Fehler hinweist.She says that the letter points out the mistake.
Participle: hingewiesenzu-infinitive: hinzuweisen
Forms
How hinweisen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | weise hin | wies hin |
| du | weist hin | wiesest hin |
| er/sie/es | weist hin | wies hin |
| wir | weisen hin | wiesen hin |
| ihr | weist hin | wiest hin |
| Sie | weisen hin | wiesen hin |
Partizip II hingewiesen · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Der Lehrer weist auf den Fehler hin.The teacher points out the mistake.prefix goes to the end
- 2Sie hat mich auf den Weg hingewiesen.She pointed me to the way.Perfekt with haben
- 3Ich weiß, dass er auf das Problem hinweist.I know that he points out the problem.verb at the end after dass
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
hinweisen + der Fehler
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Say who points out the mistake.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The teacherder Lehrer, die Lehrer pointed the mistakeder Fehler, die Fehler out to him.
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, die Busse was latespät, the driverder Fahrer, die Fahrer pointed out the delaydie Verspätung, die Verspätungen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I stayed quietruhig because she pointed out the problemdas Problem, die Probleme.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The signdas Schild, die Schilder that points to the stationder Bahnhof, die Bahnhöfe is newneu.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
You should point him to the rightrichtig doordie Tür, die Türen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He calledanrufen to point out the closedgeschlossen doordie Tür, die Türen to me.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Did she point them to the newneu timedie Uhrzeit, die Uhrzeiten?
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:
hinweisen + obwohl + der Plan
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Put its verb at the end.
- 3Then point out a problem.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What do you often point out to your friends?
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one sentence using the target verb.
- 2Name something you point out to your friends.
- 3Use a weil-clause to give a reason.