Before you start
Meet unterbringen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
unter- + bringen
- unter-
- into a place or position among others
- bringen
- to bring, put, or place
Bring someone into a place where they can stay.
So unterbringen means to accommodate; to put someone up.
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 bringen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
Separable verb: unter·bringen
In a main clause the prefix unter splits off and goes to the end. After weil, dass and other subordinating words, the verb stays in one piece at the end.
Main clauseIch bringe den Gast bei meiner Schwester unter.I’m putting the guest up at my sister’s.
Subordinate clauseEr freut sich, weil wir ihn bei uns unterbringen.He’s glad because we can put him up at our place.
Participle: untergebrachtzu-infinitive: unterzubringen
Forms
How unterbringen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | bringe unter | brachte unter |
| du | bringst unter | brachtest unter |
| er/sie/es | bringt unter | brachte unter |
| wir | bringen unter | brachten unter |
| ihr | bringt unter | brachtet unter |
| Sie | bringen unter | brachten unter |
Partizip II untergebracht · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich bringe meine Gäste heute unter.I’m putting up my guests today.prefix goes to the end
- 2Wir haben ihn bei Freunden untergebracht.We put him up at friends’ place.Perfekt with haben
- 3Sie sucht ein Zimmer, weil sie ihre Familie unterbringen muss.She’s looking for a room because she has to accommodate her family.verb at the end after weil
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
unterbringen + der Gast
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Include der Gast as the person you accommodate.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I put him up for two nightsdie Nacht, die Nächte.
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 hoteldas Hotel was fullvoll, we put them up at our placeder Ort.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She put the childrendas Kind, die Kinder up in our smallklein roomdas Zimmer because her sisterdie Schwester was visitingzu Besuch sein.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The familydie Familie that we put up last weekletzte Woche has gone homenach Hause gehen.
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 findfinden a placeder Ort where we can put the guestsder Gast, die Gäste up.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He needsbrauchen a roomdas Zimmer to put his parentsdie Eltern up in.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Where did you put the boxesdie Kiste, die Kisten?
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:
unterbringen + der Freund + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Say your friend arrived late.
- 3Accommodate your friend in the main clause.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
Where would you put up a friend who came to visit you?
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one sentence using unterbringen.
- 2Use Konjunktiv II to say where you would accommodate a friend.