Before you start
Meet loswerden
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
los- + werden
- los-
- free or detached from something
- werden
- to become
Become free of something by getting it away from you.
So loswerden means to get rid of.
A memory aid, not a rule: prefixes change meaning from verb to verb.
Learning approach inspired by this explanation in r/German.
Separable verb: los·werden
In a main clause the prefix los splits off and goes to the end. After weil, dass and other subordinating words, the verb stays in one piece at the end.
Main clauseSie wird den alten Wagen morgen los.She’ll get rid of the old car tomorrow.
Subordinate clause…, weil sie den alten Wagen morgen loswird.…, because she’ll get rid of the old car tomorrow.
Participle: losgewordenzu-infinitive: loszuwerden
Forms
How loswerden changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | werde los | wurde los |
| du | wirst los | wurdest los |
| er/sie/es | wird los | wurde los |
| wir | werden los | wurden los |
| ihr | werdet los | wurdet los |
| Sie | werden los | wurden los |
Partizip II losgeworden · Perfekt with sein
Three examples
- 1Ich werde den alten Stuhl heute los.I’m getting rid of the old chair today.present, prefix at the end
- 2Wir sind den kaputten Kühlschrank endlich losgeworden.We finally got rid of the broken fridge.Perfekt with sein
- 3Ich muss noch etwas loswerden.I still have to get something off my chest.modal verb with infinitive
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
loswerden + der alte Mantel
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use der alte Mantel as the object.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I finallyendlich got rid of it.
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 movedumziehen, we got rid of our oldalt tableder Tisch.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She wants to get rid of her oldalt bikedas Fahrrad because it is brokenkaputt.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I soldverkaufen the chairder Stuhl that I wanted to get rid of.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Can you get rid of these boxesder Karton, die Kartons todayheute?
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He went to the shopder Laden to get rid of the emptyleer bottlesdie Flasche, die Flaschen.
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 helphelfen me get rid of this sofadas Sofa?
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:
loswerden + der alte Fernseher + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Say that the old TV still works.
- 3Use a main clause with loswerden.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What would you like to get rid of at home?
Your challenge
- 1Answer in one sentence.
- 2Say what you would like to get rid of at home.