Machen vs. tun: how German expresses make and do
Machen often means make, produce or carry out something. Tun means do or act and appears in many established expressions. Both can ask what someone is doing. Learn the phrase around the verb: English make versus do does not give you a reliable German rule.
| Word | Core meaning | Typical context | Grammar |
|---|---|---|---|
| machen | make; carry out | Food, plans, activities and familiar expressions | Regular, nonseparable: macht, machte, hat gemacht. |
| tun | do; act | General actions and established expressions | Irregular, nonseparable: tut, tat, hat getan. |
machen
Meaning and usage: Machen is a broad everyday verb. Use it for creating something, completing an activity or causing a result. A speaker can make dinner, do an exercise or make someone nervous with machen. Those English translations already show why “machen always means make” fails. Learning complete combinations is more useful than assigning the verb a physical or abstract label.
Grammar: Regular, nonseparable: macht, machte, hat gemacht. Usually a direct accusative object; jemanden nervös machen combines an accusative person with an adjective.
Heute mache ich eine Gemüsepfanne.
Today I am making a vegetable stir-fry.
Was machst du nach dem Kurs?
What are you doing after the course?
tun
Meaning and usage: Tun focuses broadly on doing or behaving, without necessarily naming a product. Was kann ich tun? asks what action is possible. Fixed combinations such as jemandem einen Gefallen tun and etwas dagegen tun are especially useful. Tun also occurs in everyday placement expressions, but their register and regional frequency vary. Use common neutral combinations first rather than replacing every machen with tun.
Grammar: Irregular, nonseparable: tut, tat, hat getan. Etwas tun takes accusative; jemandem einen Gefallen tun adds a dative recipient.
Kannst du mir einen kleinen Gefallen tun?
Can you do me a small favor?
Wir müssen etwas gegen den Lärm tun.
We need to do something about the noise.
Overlap and context
Was machst du? and Was tust du? can both concern someone’s activity. The choice often reflects the surrounding expression, tone and situation. There is no general rule that machen is concrete and tun abstract: both work across concrete and abstract contexts.
Common mistakes
- Translate do my homework as meine Hausaufgaben machen, rather than mechanically choosing tun because English uses do.
- Use einen Fehler machen and jemandem einen Gefallen tun as whole expressions. Switching the verbs can sound unnatural even when the general meaning is clear.
- Do not mistake tut in Es tut mir leid for a separate verb. It is a form of tun in an established expression.
Memory aid: Collect small verb-and-noun partnerships: a Fehler goes with machen; a Gefallen goes with tun.
Try it
Complete: Kannst du mir einen Gefallen ___: machen or tun?
Show the answer
tun
Einen Gefallen tun is the established expression; mir identifies the dative recipient.
Sources for meaning and usage
Suchen, besuchen, versuchen and untersuchen: four different verbs
Suchen means look for. Besuchen means visit or attend. Versuchen means try or attempt. Untersuchen means examine or investigate. Their shared letters do not make them interchangeable. Learn the complete verb together with its object or infinitive construction.
| Word | Core meaning | Typical context | Grammar |
|---|---|---|---|
| suchen | look for | Missing objects, people, jobs or information | Regular, nonseparable: sucht, suchte, hat gesucht. |
| besuchen | visit; attend | People, places and courses | Regular and inseparable: besucht, besuchte, hat besucht. |
| versuchen | try; attempt | An action that may not succeed | Regular and inseparable: versucht, versuchte, hat versucht. |
| untersuchen | examine; investigate | Medical checks, evidence and research | Regular and inseparable: untersucht, untersuchte, hat untersucht. |
suchen
Meaning and usage: Suchen describes an effort to find someone or something. It does not imply success. You can look for a key, a solution or a new job. A direct object is common; suchen nach also names the thing sought. The prefix-free verb remains useful in many ordinary situations, without the meanings of the other three verbs.
Grammar: Regular, nonseparable: sucht, suchte, hat gesucht. Etwas/jemanden suchen: accusative; nach etwas suchen: nach + dative.
Ich suche den Schlüssel für den Keller.
I am looking for the key to the cellar.
besuchen
Meaning and usage: Besuchen means spending time with someone or going to a place for a purpose. It also covers attending a school, class or event. Ich besuche einen Kurs normally means that you attend the course, not that you are searching for one. Be- changes the whole meaning; it is not an optional addition.
Grammar: Regular and inseparable: besucht, besuchte, hat besucht. Direct accusative object; no extra preposition is needed for the person or place visited.
Am Samstag besuchen wir unsere Nachbarin.
On Saturday we are visiting our neighbor.
versuchen
Meaning and usage: Versuchen expresses an attempt. It commonly introduces what you are trying to do through a zu-infinitive. It can also take a noun or es as its object. The verb does not mean look for, even though its spelling contains suchen. In some contexts it also means try out or taste, but attempting an action is the central use here.
Grammar: Regular and inseparable: versucht, versuchte, hat versucht. Etwas versuchen or versuchen, etwas zu tun; infinitive clause with zu.
Ich versuche, die Nachricht ohne Wörterbuch zu lesen.
I am trying to read the message without a dictionary.
untersuchen
Meaning and usage: Untersuchen involves a closer examination intended to establish facts. A doctor examines someone; researchers investigate a question; technicians examine material. It is more specific than simply searching. The object tells you what receives this examination, while an additional phrase may identify what the examination looks for.
Grammar: Regular and inseparable: untersucht, untersuchte, hat untersucht. Accusative object; auf etwas untersuchen uses auf + accusative.
Die Ärztin untersucht meinen verletzten Arm.
The doctor is examining my injured arm.
Overlap and context
Suchen nach einer Ursache and eine Ursache untersuchen can concern the same problem from different stages. The first emphasizes finding it; the second emphasizes examining it. Visiting a museum and investigating its collection are also different activities, even if one person does both.
Common mistakes
- Keep besuchen together: Sie besucht uns, not Sie sucht uns be. The be- prefix is inseparable.
- Use Ich versuche, Deutsch zu sprechen for an attempt, not Ich suche, Deutsch zu sprechen.
- Untersuchen is also inseparable. The present-tense form is untersucht, without moving unter to the end.
Memory aid: Suchen looks for; besuchen visits; versuchen attempts; untersuchen examines. Remember four actions, not one supposed prefix formula.
Try it
Which verb fits: Der Techniker ___ die beschädigte Leitung genau?
Show the answer
untersucht
A detailed examination of the damaged cable calls for untersuchen.
Sources for meaning and usage
Brauchen vs. benötigen vs. gebrauchen vs. verbrauchen
Brauchen and benötigen normally express needing something. Gebrauchen means using it or having a use for it. Verbrauchen means consuming a resource. Brauchen also has use and consumption senses, so context matters. A practical starting point is brauche Hilfe for needing help, kann das gebrauchen for finding something useful, and verbraucht Strom for consuming electricity.
| Word | Core meaning | Typical context | Grammar |
|---|---|---|---|
| brauchen | need; also use or consume in context | needs, time and limited necessity | accusative; negative brauchen + zu-infinitive; hat gebraucht |
| benötigen | need; require | requirements and practical necessities | inseparable; accusative object; hat benötigt |
| gebrauchen | use; have a use for | tools, language and useful items | inseparable; accusative object; hat gebraucht |
| verbrauchen | consume; use up resources | energy, water, money and materials | inseparable; accusative resource; hat verbraucht |
brauchen
Meaning and usage: Brauchen is the everyday choice for needing an object, help or time. It can also describe using or consuming something. In a negative or restricted infinitive construction, it expresses not having to do something or only having to do something.
Grammar: Regular, nonseparable: braucht, brauchte, hat gebraucht. Usually takes accusative. For standard learner writing, use nicht brauchen + zu-infinitive: Du brauchst nicht zu warten. Zu is often omitted in colloquial speech.
Für das Gespräch brauche ich eine ruhige Umgebung.
I need a quiet environment for the conversation.
benötigen
Meaning and usage: Benötigen suits requirements and factual statements of need. It overlaps with brauchen rather than expressing stronger need; idioms may require brauchen.
Grammar: Regular and inseparable: benötigt, benötigte, hat benötigt. Takes an accusative object, such as ein Dokument or Hilfe. For an action, a noun phrase or a differently worded clause is often clearer than copying modal brauchen.
Für die Anmeldung benötigen Sie einen Lichtbildausweis.
You need photo identification for the registration.
gebrauchen
Meaning and usage: Gebrauchen concerns putting something to use. Kann ich gebrauchen means something would be useful. That can resemble needing it, but do not replace every ordinary statement of need with gebrauchen.
Grammar: Regular and inseparable: gebraucht, gebrauchte, hat gebraucht. Takes an accusative object. Brauchen and gebrauchen share the participle gebraucht; the whole sentence identifies the intended meaning.
Diese stabile Kiste kann ich für den Umzug gut gebrauchen.
This sturdy box will be useful for my move.
verbrauchen
Meaning and usage: Verbrauchen focuses on resource consumption, not merely using a reusable tool. An appliance consumes electricity rather than merely holding a reusable tool. The word does not always imply that absolutely none remains.
Grammar: Regular and inseparable: verbraucht, verbrauchte, hat verbraucht. Takes an accusative resource, often with a quantity. No prefix separates and no additional ge- appears in the participle.
Der alte Kühlschrank verbraucht zu viel Strom.
The old refrigerator consumes too much electricity.
Overlap and context
Brauchen and benötigen often exchange naturally in statements of need. Brauchen and gebrauchen overlap when something is useful; brauchen and verbrauchen can overlap with resources. Choose the construction and object first, rather than assuming each English translation has one exclusive German equivalent.
Common mistakes
- Do not read gebraucht automatically as 'second-hand'; it can be a verb participle whose sense depends on the sentence.
- Using a hammer does not normally consume it: gebrauchen or benutzen fits better than verbrauchen.
- In careful standard writing, retain zu in Du brauchst nicht zu kommen.
Memory aid: Need it, use it, or consume it: check what happens to the object.
Try it
Complete: Dieses Programm ___ sehr viel Speicherplatz. You describe a resource requirement, not giving away a tool.
Show the answer
benötigt or braucht
Both can express the amount of storage required; the question has two acceptable answers.
Sources for meaning and usage
Benutzen, nutzen, verwenden and anwenden: choosing a German use verb
Benutzen and verwenden broadly mean use. Nutzen often highlights making use of an opportunity or resource, but also overlaps with ordinary use. Anwenden is especially useful for applying a method, rule or knowledge. These are preferences, not four mutually exclusive categories.
| Word | Core meaning | Typical context | Grammar |
|---|---|---|---|
| benutzen | use something | Objects, facilities and practical tools | Regular, inseparable: benutzt, benutzte, hat benutzt. |
| nutzen | make use of; benefit | Opportunities, resources and advantages | Regular, inseparable: nutzt, nutzte, hat genutzt. |
| verwenden | use for a purpose | Materials, words, ingredients and equipment | Inseparable: verwendet, verwendete, hat verwendet are safe defaults. |
| anwenden | apply; put into practice | Rules, techniques and learned knowledge | Separable: wendet an, wandte/wendete an, hat angewandt/angewendet. |
benutzen
Meaning and usage: Benutzen is an everyday choice when you use an object, room or facility for its purpose. It can also describe using an opportunity or exploiting someone. Therefore “only physical objects” is too narrow a rule. Context determines whether the action is neutral or morally questionable. Learn familiar combinations before trying to choose by abstract categories.
Grammar: Regular, inseparable: benutzt, benutzte, hat benutzt. Direct accusative object; für + accusative can express a purpose.
Du kannst meinen Schreibtisch benutzen.
You can use my desk.
nutzen
Meaning and usage: Nutzen often presents something as an available resource from which you gain a benefit. It is natural for time, opportunities and services. It also has a different construction meaning be useful to someone: Das nutzt mir nichts. That sentence says something brings no benefit; it does not mean that the speaker fails to use it.
Grammar: Regular, inseparable: nutzt, nutzte, hat genutzt. Etwas nutzen: accusative. Jemandem nutzen, meaning benefit someone: dative.
Wir nutzen die Mittagspause für einen kurzen Spaziergang.
We use the lunch break for a short walk.
verwenden
Meaning and usage: Verwenden focuses comfortably on what is selected for a particular purpose. It is common for materials, ingredients and expressions, but is not restricted to them. A computer can also be verwendet. Its neutral meaning is useful in instructions and descriptions; no universal formal-versus-informal boundary separates it from benutzen.
Grammar: Inseparable: verwendet, verwendete, hat verwendet are safe defaults. Verwandte/verwandt also exist. Accusative object; für + accusative identifies purpose.
Für die Überschrift verwenden wir eine größere Schrift.
We use a larger font for the heading.
anwenden
Meaning and usage: Anwenden is a strong choice when a rule, treatment, method or skill is put to work. Its object names what you apply. If you add the case or problem receiving that application, auf often introduces it. The verb is not simply a more sophisticated replacement for every English use.
Grammar: Separable: wendet an, wandte/wendete an, hat angewandt/angewendet. Accusative object; auf + accusative for the target; anzuwenden with zu.
Wir wenden diese Regel auf den nächsten Beispielsatz an.
We apply this rule to the next example sentence.
Overlap and context
You can benutzen, nutzen or verwenden software, and several verbs can describe a method. The selected verb changes emphasis more often than factual correctness. Prefer anwenden for putting a learned procedure into practice; use familiar collocations to judge the other choices.
Common mistakes
- Do not insist that benutzen is always concrete and nutzen always abstract. Dictionaries show overlap.
- Separate anwenden in a simple main clause: Ich wende die Methode an.
- Distinguish Ich nutze den Hinweis from Der Hinweis nutzt mir. The first uses accusative; the benefit construction has a dative recipient.
Memory aid: Benutzen handles a tool; nutzen makes use of what is available; verwenden selects something; anwenden puts a method into practice.
Try it
Complete: Sie wendet die Technik ___: an or aus?
Show the answer
an
Anwenden is separable. The technique is its accusative object; an is the detached verb prefix.
Sources for meaning and usage
bekommen vs. erhalten vs. werden vs. kriegen: meanings and usage in German
Bekommen usually means receiving or getting something, not English become. Erhalten also means receive and is often suitable in formal messages; kriegen is an informal receiving/getting verb. Werden expresses becoming a different state or role. These are starting meanings: bekommen can also describe developing hunger, while erhalten can mean preserving something.
| Word | Core meaning | Typical context | Grammar |
|---|---|---|---|
| bekommen | receive or get | a parcel, answer or new condition | bekam; hat bekommen in receiving sense |
| erhalten | receive; preserve | formal correspondence; conservation | erhielt; hat erhalten |
| werden | become | a condition, age or profession | wurde; ist geworden |
| kriegen | get or receive, informal | everyday conversation | kriegte; hat gekriegt |
bekommen
Meaning and usage: Use bekommen for receiving something or coming to have it. You can receive a reply, get a new job or develop an appetite. The latter meanings show why a single English receive gloss is not enough. Still, Ich bekomme müde is not the ordinary translation of I become tired.
Grammar: Inseparable be-; bekam, hat bekommen for receiving. The received item is accusative. The separate sense meaning agree with someone can take sein in the perfect; it is not the receiving pattern taught here.
Ich habe heute eine Antwort bekommen.
I received a reply today.
erhalten
Meaning and usage: Use erhalten for receive, particularly in written confirmations or formal correspondence. It also means maintain or preserve: a city can preserve a building. Look at the object before deciding which meaning applies.
Grammar: Inseparable er-; erhält, erhielt, hat erhalten. Receiving and preserving uses take accusative objects. No extra ge- appears in the participle.
Sie erhalten die Bestätigung per E-Mail.
You will receive the confirmation by email.
Die Stadt möchte das alte Gebäude erhalten.
The city wants to preserve the old building.
werden
Meaning and usage: Use werden plus an adjective or role to express becoming. It can also function as an auxiliary for future or passive constructions, which need separate grammar explanations. Here the focus is the change-of-state verb.
Grammar: Irregular: wird, wurde, ist geworden. Predicative adjectives have no adjective ending. A predicate noun is nominative; professions commonly appear without an article.
Nach dem langen Tag werde ich müde.
After the long day, I am getting tired.
Mara möchte Ärztin werden.
Mara wants to become a doctor.
kriegen
Meaning and usage: Use kriegen for get in informal conversation: a message, opportunity or item. It is common spoken German, not automatically rude. In a formal application or official email, bekommen or erhalten may be more suitable.
Grammar: Weak: kriegte, hat gekriegt. The received item is accusative. The word has additional informal senses, such as catching someone or managing to obtain a result.
Hast du meine Nachricht gekriegt?
Did you get my message?
Overlap and context
For receiving a reply, bekommen, erhalten and kriegen can describe the same event. Register is a useful guide, not a statement that erhalten always sounds bureaucratic. Ich bekomme Hunger expresses developing hunger, while Ich werde hungrig expresses becoming hungry. These illustrate related meanings with different grammar, not a universal ban on bekommen for every change of state.
Common mistakes
- Say Ich werde nervös, not Ich bekomme nervös.
- Do not translate erhalten as receive in a sentence about preserving a monument.
- Use ist geworden for become; hat geworden is incorrect in this construction.
Memory aid: For a parcel, think getting: bekommen/erhalten/kriegen. For a new adjective or role, think becoming: werden. Then adjust the receiving verb to the situation’s tone.
Try it
Complete: Nach drei Stunden Arbeit ___ ich langsam müde.
Show the answer
werde
Müde describes a developing state, so werden fits. Bekommen would need a noun object or another established construction rather than this adjective alone.