Distinguish: aufräumen - abräumen - ausräumen; aufmachen-zumachen-anmachen-ausmachen
In German, prefixes (Präfix) when combined with verbs create new verbs with different meanings. The verb
In German, prefixes (Präfix) combine with verbs to create new verbs with different meanings. The verb "räumen," which means to clear, combines with the prefixes auf-, ab-, and aus- to form new verbs — but what do they mean? And what meanings does "Machen" take on when combined with auf-, zu-, an-, and aus-? Today's article will help you distinguish between two groups of verbs: aufräumen - abräumen - ausräumen and aufmachen - zumachen - anmachen - ausmachen.
Let's explore them together!!!
1. The verb group aufräumen - abräumen - ausräumen
Aufräumen | Abräumen | Ausräumen |
To tidy everything up neatly | To clear everything away, removing all unnecessary items from a surface | To clear something out of a defined space, leaving that space empty |
Your room is very messy. You have to clean up your room this weekend. In this case, aufräumen is used, because the messy room needs to be tidied and organized. Dieses Wochenende muss ich mein Zimmer aufräumen. (This weekend, I have to tidy up my room.) | You go to a café and want to sit down at a table, but the glasses and cups from the previous customer are still on it. You want the waiter to clear the table. In this situation, the waiter's action of clearing the table is abräumen. The waiter will remove all the unnecessary items from the table surface, leaving only what is needed, such as the flower vase, napkins, etc. |
Können Sie bitte diesen Tisch abräumen?
(Can you please clear this table?)
You are moving and have to clear all the furniture out of the old apartment.
Als ich letzte Woche umgezogen bin, musste ich alle Möbel aus der älteren Wohnung ausräumen.
(When I moved last week, I had to clear all the furniture out of the old apartment.)
2. Nhóm động từ aufmachen - zumachen - anmachen - ausmachen
Aufmachen | Zumachen | Anmachen | Ausmachen |
Open something that does not use electricity, e.g. open a window, open a front door, open a water bottle, ... | Close something that does not use electricity – the opposite of aufmachen. | Turn on/activate an electrical device such as: a computer, a TV, .... | Turn off/deactivate electrical devices: lights, computers, ... |
Hans macht das Auto auf und steigt ein. (Hans opens the car door and gets in.) | Ich mache die Tür zu. I close the door. | Katharina macht ihren Computer an. Katharina turns on her computer. | Tina macht das Licht aus. (Tina turns off the light.) |
Synonym: öffnen | Synonym: schließen | Synonym: anschalten, einschalten are used for devices with a switch. | Synonym: ausschalten, abschalten are used for devices with a switch. |
Knowledge test
Distinguish: aufräumen - abräumen - ausräumen; aufmachen-zumachen-anmachen-ausmachen
- 1.
......das Fenster, bitte!
- 2.
Anna ...... ihr Handy ........
- 3.
Kannst du das Geschirr vom Tisch ..............?