All German word comparisons · Back to the topic overview
Meaning, sentence patterns and examples
| Word | Core meaning | Typical context | Grammar |
|---|---|---|---|
| fordern | demand; challenge | claims, requests and demanding work | Regular: forderte, hat gefordert; accusative demand or person. |
| auffordern | ask or instruct someone to act | instructions, requests and invitations | Separable; forderte auf, hat aufgefordert; person accusative. |
| anfordern | request supply or delivery | documents, information and additional support | Separable; forderte an, hat angefordert; accusative requested item. |
| erfordern | require; make necessary | time, resources and prerequisites | Inseparable; erforderte, hat erfordert; accusative requirement. |
fordern
Meaning and usage: Fordern presents a claim or demand rather than a neutral enquiry. It also describes a task demanding effort from a person. Context determines whether the sense is demanding something or putting someone's abilities to the test.
Grammar: Regular, nonseparable: fordert, forderte, hat gefordert. What is demanded is accusative; von + dative can name the person expected to provide it. In a challenging-work sense, the person can be the accusative object.
Die Kundin fordert eine schriftliche Erklärung.
The customer demands a written explanation.
auffordern
Meaning and usage: Auffordern directs a person toward an action. It may be firm, but it can also describe an invitation or request. Do not assume that every occurrence is a hostile order; the speaker's tone and context matter.
Grammar: Regular and separable: fordert auf, forderte auf, hat aufgefordert. Use jemanden auffordern, etwas zu tun. Alternatively, use jemanden zu + dative auffordern, with a noun naming the action.
Die Lehrerin fordert uns auf, die Beispiele zu vergleichen.
The teacher asks us to compare the examples.
anfordern
Meaning and usage: Anfordern asks for an item, document or resource to be provided. It suits administrative and professional requests, including requesting extra personnel. It does not guarantee entitlement or delivery.
Grammar: Regular and separable: fordert an, forderte an, hat angefordert. Take an accusative requested item. Bei + dative can name the office or provider from which you request it.
Ich fordere beim Kundenservice eine Kopie der Rechnung an.
I request a copy of the invoice from customer service.
erfordern
Meaning and usage: Erfordern usually places the task or situation as the subject. A project requires money; a repair requires patience. No person needs to issue an instruction for the requirement to exist. It describes what the undertaking makes necessary.
Grammar: Regular and inseparable: erfordert, erforderte, hat erfordert. The necessary resource is accusative. A dass-clause can describe a required action. Keep er- attached in every finite form.
Die Reparatur erfordert besondere Werkzeuge.
The repair requires special tools.
Overlap and context
Fordern and anfordern may both involve requests, but anfordern more specifically concerns obtaining a resource. Auffordern focuses on a person doing something. Erfordern focuses on the necessity created by the task. These differences concern constructions and perspective, rather than a simple scale from polite to forceful.
Common mistakes
- To ask someone to act, use jemanden auffordern, not someone in the dative.
- Only auf- and an- separate in this group.
- Do not say that a task fordert tools when you mean it requires them; erfordert clearly expresses that prerequisite.
Memory aid: Demand a result; prompt a person; request a resource; describe a requirement.
Try it
Complete: Das Ausfüllen des Formulars ___ nur wenige Minuten.
Show the answer
erfordert
The task itself makes a small amount of time necessary.