Before you start
Meet umstellen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
All 3 meanings
- to surround
- to rearrange
- to readjust (a device); to change, to convert (something so it better meets certain requirements)
Build the meaning
um- + stellen
- um-
- into a different position or arrangement
- stellen
- to put or place
Place things differently, or shift something into a new setup.
So umstellen means to rearrange; to switch or change over.
A memory aid, not a rule: prefixes change meaning from verb to verb.
Learning approach inspired by this explanation in r/German.
Separable verb: um·stellen
In a main clause the prefix um 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 stellt das Bett um.She rearranges the bed.
Subordinate clauseIch bleibe hier, weil ich den Tisch umstelle.I’m staying here because I’m rearranging the table.
Participle: umgestelltzu-infinitive: umzustellen
Forms
How umstellen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | stelle um | stellte um |
| du | stellst um | stelltest um |
| er/sie/es | stellt um | stellte um |
| wir | stellen um | stellten um |
| ihr | stellt um | stelltet um |
| Sie | stellen um | stellten um |
Partizip II umgestellt · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich stelle den Tisch um.I rearrange the table.prefix goes to the end
- 2Wir haben die Uhr umgestellt.We changed the clock.Perfekt with haben
- 3Du musst den Plan umstellen.You have to change the plan.modal verb with infinitive
Verb family
More verbs built on stellen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
- vorstellento introduce, imagine
- darstellento depict, portray
- feststellento establish, detect
- einstellento adjust, employ, stop
- herstellento produce
- aufstellento put up, draw up
- anstellento employ, line up, get into mischief
- herausstellento emphasize, come to light