Before you start
Meet voraussetzen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
voraus- + setzen
- voraus-
- ahead of time or as a prior condition
- setzen
- to set or place
You set something in advance as a condition for what follows.
So voraussetzen means to presuppose, take for granted, or require.
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 setzen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
- einsetzento put in, insert
- durchsetzento carry through, enforce
- fortsetzento continue
- umsetzento move, to put into practice
- ansetzento position, estimate, fix
- aussetzento abandon
- zusammensetzento put together
- absetzento take off, dismiss
Separable verb: voraus·setzen
In a main clause the prefix voraus 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 Job setzt viel Zeit voraus.The job requires a lot of time.
Subordinate clauseIch weiß, dass der Job viel Erfahrung voraussetzt.I know that the job requires a lot of experience.
Participle: vorausgesetztzu-infinitive: vorauszusetzen
Forms
How voraussetzen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | setze voraus | setzte voraus |
| du | setzt voraus | setztest voraus |
| er/sie/es | setzt voraus | setzte voraus |
| wir | setzen voraus | setzten voraus |
| ihr | setzt voraus | setztet voraus |
| Sie | setzen voraus | setzten voraus |
Partizip II vorausgesetzt · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Der Plan setzt viel Zeit voraus.The plan requires a lot of time.present, prefix at end
- 2Ich habe deine Hilfe vorausgesetzt.I took your help for granted.Perfekt with haben
- 3Du darfst nicht voraussetzen, dass alle das wissen.You must not assume that everyone knows that.modal verb with infinitive
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
voraussetzen + der Kurs + gute Deutschkenntnisse
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Say that the course requires good German skills.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The teacherder Lehrer · die Lehrerin required 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 I startedbeginnen the courseder Kurs, it required good Germangute Deutschkenntnisse.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She is worriedbesorgt because the jobder Job requires a cardas Auto.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The jobder Job that requires a cardas Auto is farweit from here.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The schooldie Schule must assume that we knowkennen the rulesdie Regel, die Regeln.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
It is wrongfalsch to assume that everyone has timedie Zeit.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
What does this courseder Kurs require?
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:
voraussetzen + der Job + dass
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Include a dass-clause.
- 3Put the verb at the end of that clause.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What does a course you want to take require?
Your challenge
- 1Answer in one sentence using the target verb.
- 2Say what a course you want to take requires.