Before you start
Meet vorhaben
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
vor- + haben
- vor-
- ahead, in advance
- haben
- to have
You have something set ahead of you in your plans.
So vorhaben means to plan; to intend.
A memory aid, not a rule: prefixes change meaning from verb to verb.
Learning approach inspired by this explanation in r/German.
Separable verb: vor·haben
In a main clause the prefix vor splits off and goes to the end. After weil, dass and other subordinating words, the verb stays in one piece at the end.
Main clauseWir haben heute Abend viel vor.We have a lot planned for this evening.
Subordinate clauseSie sagt, dass sie morgen nichts vorhat.She says that she has nothing planned for tomorrow.
Participle: vorgehabtzu-infinitive: vorzuhaben
Forms
How vorhaben changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | habe vor | hatte vor |
| du | hast vor | hattest vor |
| er/sie/es | hat vor | hatte vor |
| wir | haben vor | hatten vor |
| ihr | habt vor | hattet vor |
| Sie | haben vor | hatten vor |
Partizip II vorgehabt · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich habe heute viel vor.I have a lot planned today.present, prefix at the end
- 2Wir haben einen Besuch vorgehabt.We had planned a visit.Perfekt with haben
- 3Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich vorhabe, heute zu lernen.I’m staying home because I plan to study today.verb at the end after weil
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
vorhaben + der Ausflug
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Say that you have an outing planned for tomorrow.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I plannedto plan it for Saturdayder Samstag.
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 were on holidayder Urlaub, we planned a tripder Ausflug every dayjeden Tag.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She stayed homezu Hause bleiben because she had planned to studylernen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The mander Mann who plans to moveumziehen next monthnächsten Monat is my neighborder Nachbar.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He wants to comekommen, but he hasn't planned it yet.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I plan to cookkochen at home tonightheute Abend.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
What would you like to do on your day offder freie Tag?
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:
vorhaben + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Say that you still have a lot planned today.
- 3Put the main clause after the subordinate clause.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What do you plan to do this weekend?
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one sentence about your plans.
- 2Use vorhaben with a zu-infinitive.