Before you start
Meet wahrnehmen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
wahr- + nehmen
- wahr-
- as real or true
- nehmen
- to take
You take something in as real and let it enter your awareness.
So wahrnehmen means to notice; to perceive.
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 nehmen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
- annehmento accept, assume
- aufnehmento record, include
- zunehmento increase
- einnehmento take up, in
- vornehmento plan
- abnehmento decrease, reduce
- teilnehmento take part
- mitnehmento take along
Separable verb: wahr·nehmen
In a main clause the prefix wahr 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 nehmen den kalten Wind wahr.We notice the cold wind.
Subordinate clauseIch bleibe ruhig, weil ich den Lärm wahrnehme.I stay calm because I notice the noise.
Participle: wahrgenommenzu-infinitive: wahrzunehmen
Forms
How wahrnehmen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | nehme wahr | nahm wahr |
| du | nimmst wahr | nahmst wahr |
| er/sie/es | nimmt wahr | nahm wahr |
| wir | nehmen wahr | nahmen wahr |
| ihr | nehmt wahr | nahmt wahr |
| Sie | nehmen wahr | nahmen wahr |
Partizip II wahrgenommen · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich nehme den Lärm draußen wahr.I notice the noise outside.present, separated prefix
- 2Sie hat den Geruch sofort wahrgenommen.She noticed the smell right away.Perfekt with haben
- 3Er hört die Musik, wenn er sie wahrnimmt.He hears the music when he notices it.verb at the end after wenn
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
wahrnehmen + der Lärm
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Include der Lärm as what you notice.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I noticed it yesterday.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When the busder Bus arrived, I immediatelysofort noticed the rainder Regen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I noticed the musicdie Musik because the roomdas Zimmer was quietruhig.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The womandie Frau who works here noticed the mistakeder Fehler.
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 notice the lightdas Licht from here?
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He tried to notice the smallklein soundsdas Geräusch, die Geräusche.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Did you notice me at the stationder Bahnhof?
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:
wahrnehmen + dass
Your challenge
- 1Use the simple past for wahrnehmen.
- 2Add a dass-clause about the room becoming quiet.
- 3Put the conjugated verb at the end of the dass-clause.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What sounds do you notice at home at night?
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one German sentence.
- 2Use the present tense and say what sound you notice at home at night.