Nehmen, annehmen, aufnehmen and übernehmen: which kind of taking?
Nehmen is the general verb for taking. Annehmen often means accepting something offered or assuming something is true. Aufnehmen can mean admitting someone or recording something. Übernehmen means taking over something, such as a task or responsibility. The prefix changes both the meaning and, sometimes, the sentence pattern; translating every form as 'take' hides these useful distinctions.
| Word | Core meaning | Typical context | Grammar |
|---|---|---|---|
| nehmen | take | objects, choices, transport | Irregular; nimmt, nahm, hat genommen |
| annehmen | accept; assume | offers, invitations, beliefs | Separable; nimmt an, hat angenommen |
| aufnehmen | admit; record | members, guests, audio | Separable; nimmt auf, hat aufgenommen |
| übernehmen | take over | tasks, responsibilities, businesses | Inseparable here; übernimmt, hat übernommen |
nehmen
Meaning and usage: Use this broad verb when someone takes an object, chooses something offered, or uses transport. It does not by itself specify accepting a proposal or assuming responsibility.
Grammar: Usually an accusative object: etwas nehmen. The stem changes in du nimmst and er nimmt; the past is nahm.
Ich nehme den früheren Zug.
I am taking the earlier train.
annehmen
Meaning and usage: An offered invitation or proposal can be accepted. In a different sense, the verb expresses an assumption rather than something you know for certain.
Grammar: Etwas annehmen takes an accusative object; annehmen, dass introduces the content of an assumption. The separable prefix goes to the clause end.
Sie nimmt unsere Einladung an.
She accepts our invitation.
Ich nehme an, dass der Laden noch offen ist.
I assume the shop is still open.
aufnehmen
Meaning and usage: An organization can admit a person. Recording audio or video is another useful sense; the exact object identifies the meaning.
Grammar: Jemanden or etwas aufnehmen takes an accusative object. Use aufgenommen in the perfect.
Der Verein nimmt neue Mitglieder auf.
The club admits new members.
Wir nehmen das Gespräch auf.
We are recording the conversation.
übernehmen
Meaning and usage: Use this for taking a task, role or responsibility into your own hands, or succeeding someone in running something.
Grammar: Jemanden/etwas übernehmen; the ordinary 'take over' verb is inseparable: übernimmt, übernahm, hat übernommen.
Morgen übernehme ich die Leitung des Teams.
Tomorrow I take over the leadership of the team.
Overlap and context
The verbs share a broad idea of taking, but they foreground different actions. Annehmen and übernehmen may describe successive steps: you accept a proposed task and then take responsibility for it. Aufnehmen has additional senses; this lesson selects two practical ones rather than treating the prefix as a universal formula.
Common mistakes
- Do not separate übernehmen in its everyday take-over meaning: ich übernehme die Aufgabe, not ich nehme die Aufgabe über.
- Annehmen can express a belief; it does not always involve a physical object.
- Recording a conversation is ein Gespräch aufnehmen, not automatically ein Gespräch nehmen.
Memory aid: Accept an offer, admit or record something, take over a responsibility.
Try it
Complete: Kannst du morgen meine Schicht ___? You want someone to cover your shift.
Show the answer
übernehmen
The person would take responsibility for the shift. Accepting an offer would call for annehmen instead.
Sources for meaning and usage
Geben, abgeben, angeben and aufgeben: one stem, several actions
Geben is the broad verb give. Abgeben often means hand in or hand over to the relevant recipient. Angeben means state information, and in another context it means show off. Aufgeben commonly means give up, but also fits assigning homework, posting an item or placing an order. These prefixes create conventional meanings; translating each prefix separately will not reliably predict the result. Pay attention to the object: a form, an address, a goal or an order points towards a different action.
| Word | Core meaning | Typical context | Grammar |
|---|---|---|---|
| geben | give | Transfer to another person | Strong: gibt, gab, hat gegeben; no separable prefix. Jemandem etwas geben: recipient dative, thing accusative. Es gibt takes an accusative object. |
| abgeben | hand in; hand over | Completed work, forms and items at a counter | Separable ab-: gibt ab, gab ab, hat abgegeben. Etwas abgeben takes accusative; bei + dative can identify the receiving place or person. |
| angeben | state; also show off | Details on forms or boasting | Separable an-: gibt an, gab an, hat angegeben. Etwas angeben takes accusative. In the boasting sense: mit etwas angeben, with mit + dative. |
| aufgeben | give up; submit or assign in set phrases | Abandoning efforts; orders and tasks | Separable auf-: gibt auf, gab auf, hat aufgegeben. Can stand without an object for give up; otherwise often accusative. Assigned work may also have a dative recipient. |
geben
Meaning and usage: Geben describes making something available to someone, without necessarily specifying the kind of transfer. It can describe handing over a book, lending it or giving it as a present when context supplies that information. Es gibt is a separate useful pattern meaning there is or there are.
Grammar: Strong: gibt, gab, hat gegeben; no separable prefix. Jemandem etwas geben: recipient dative, thing accusative. Es gibt takes an accusative object.
Ich gebe meiner Schwester den Schlüssel.
I give my sister the key.
abgeben
Meaning and usage: Abgeben commonly suggests delivering something to the person or place responsible for receiving it. It is useful for schoolwork, applications, keys and luggage. Other senses include giving off heat and making a statement.
Grammar: Separable ab-: gibt ab, gab ab, hat abgegeben. Etwas abgeben takes accusative; bei + dative can identify the receiving place or person.
Bitte gib das Formular am Empfang ab.
Please hand in the form at reception.
angeben
Meaning and usage: Angeben provides requested facts such as an address or date. In informal conversation, angeben without such an object can mean boast. Mit can name what someone boasts about. Context prevents the two senses from being confused.
Grammar: Separable an-: gibt an, gab an, hat angegeben. Etwas angeben takes accusative. In the boasting sense: mit etwas angeben, with mit + dative.
Geben Sie bitte Ihre Telefonnummer an.
Please state your telephone number.
aufgeben
Meaning and usage: Aufgeben may mean stop trying or abandon a goal. It also means place an order in eine Bestellung aufgeben and assign work in jemandem Hausaufgaben aufgeben. These are ordinary meanings, not exceptions you can ignore.
Grammar: Separable auf-: gibt auf, gab auf, hat aufgegeben. Can stand without an object for give up; otherwise often accusative. Assigned work may also have a dative recipient.
Auch nach zwei Versuchen gibt sie nicht auf.
Even after two attempts, she does not give up.
Overlap and context
Abgeben and aufgeben can both involve handing something to an organization, but fixed context matters: baggage can be aufgegeben for transport, while a completed form is typically abgegeben. Angeben is not automatically negative: stating an address is neutral. The negative interpretation comes from its boasting sense.
Common mistakes
- Do not interpret every aufgeben sentence as surrender: check for Bestellung, Paket or homework.
- In a main clause, split these prefixes: Ich gebe das Formular ab.
Memory aid: Give a key, hand in a form, state an address, give up an attempt. Add one object to each verb so you remember a usable phrase.
Try it
Complete: Im Formular muss ich meine Adresse ___ .
Show the answer
angeben
The form asks you to state information; the infinitive keeps the prefix attached.
Sources for meaning and usage
Halten vs. behalten vs. erhalten vs. enthalten
Halten can mean holding something. Behalten means keeping or retaining it. Erhalten can mean receiving something or preserving it, depending on context. Enthalten means containing or including something. Imagine a parcel: you receive it, hold it, keep its contents, and read what the package contains. These related forms describe different relationships to the object.
| Word | Core meaning | Typical context | Grammar |
|---|---|---|---|
| halten | hold; maintain; stop | physical holding and many fixed phrases | Strong: hielt, hat gehalten; accusative object in the holding sense. |
| behalten | keep; retain | possessions, information and qualities | Inseparable; behielt, hat behalten; accusative object. |
| erhalten | receive; preserve | messages, benefits and preservation | Inseparable; erhielt, hat erhalten; accusative object. |
| enthalten | contain; include | ingredients, documents and prices | Inseparable; enthielt, hat enthalten; accusative contents. |
halten
Meaning and usage: Halten often describes holding an object physically. It has many other senses, including stopping and keeping a commitment. Keep a promise with ein Versprechen halten.
Grammar: Strong, nonseparable: hält, hielt, hat gehalten. In the physical sense, take an accusative object. Halten für + accusative expresses considering someone or something a certain way; these are different constructions.
Kannst du kurz meine Tasche halten?
Can you hold my bag for a moment?
behalten
Meaning and usage: Behalten emphasizes that something stays with you or is not lost, given back or forgotten. You can keep an item, retain your composure or remember a number. Unlike holding physically, keeping an object does not require touching it.
Grammar: Strong and inseparable: behält, behielt, hat behalten. Takes an accusative object. In etwas für sich behalten, für sich signals not sharing information; the reflexive pronoun follows für, not the verb alone.
Den Stadtplan kannst du für die nächste Reise behalten.
You can keep the city map for your next trip.
erhalten
Meaning and usage: Erhalten may describe something coming to you, such as a reply or payment. It also means maintaining something's existence or condition. The object and context determine whether the English equivalent is receive or preserve.
Grammar: Strong and inseparable: erhält, erhielt, hat erhalten. Both receiving and preserving normally take an accusative object. Von + dative can name the sender. Sich erhalten describes continuing to exist or being preserved.
Ich habe heute eine schriftliche Bestätigung erhalten.
I received written confirmation today.
Die Stadt möchte das alte Gebäude erhalten.
The city wants to preserve the old building.
enthalten
Meaning and usage: Enthalten identifies what is inside or included. A document contains information; a price may include an extra service. Sich enthalten is a separate elevated construction meaning abstaining, often used for votes, rather than containing oneself.
Grammar: Strong and inseparable: enthält, enthielt, hat enthalten. Containing takes accusative. Included content can be described as in + dative enthalten. In the abstaining sense, sich enthalten may take genitive: sich der Stimme enthalten.
Der Preis enthält bereits die Versandkosten.
The price already includes shipping costs.
Overlap and context
Halten and behalten overlap in some ideas of retaining or maintaining, but their collocations differ. Erhalten and behalten may both concern preserving a state; erhalten can also mean receiving it in the first place. Context identifies erhalten’s meaning.
Common mistakes
- Do not translate every erhalten as 'receive': eine Tradition erhalten means preserving it.
- In the present, remember hält, behält, erhält and enthält.
- Enthalten and erhalten differ by more than one letter: containing a document is not receiving it.
Memory aid: Hold it, keep it, receive or preserve it, then ask what it contains.
Try it
Complete: Die E-Mail ___ einen Link zum Formular.
Show the answer
enthält
The link is part of the email's contents.
Sources for meaning and usage
Lassen vs. verlassen vs. überlassen vs. zulassen
Lassen can mean letting someone do something, having something done, or leaving something as it is. Verlassen means leaving a place or person; sich verlassen auf means relying on someone or something. Überlassen means leaving something to another person's use or decision. Zulassen means allowing, tolerating or admitting something. Their sentence constructions matter as much as their English translations.
| Word | Core meaning | Typical context | Grammar |
|---|---|---|---|
| lassen | let; have done; leave unchanged | permission, arrangements and leaving objects | Strong; ließ; hat gelassen alone, hat ... lassen with another infinitive. |
| verlassen | leave; rely on reflexively | departure, relationships and trust | Inseparable; verließ, hat verlassen; sich verlassen auf + accusative. |
| überlassen | leave to; make available; entrust | use, responsibility and decisions | Inseparable; überließ, hat überlassen; dative recipient, accusative item. |
| zulassen | allow; tolerate; admit | permission and formal admission | Separable; ließ zu, hat zugelassen; accusative object or dass-clause. |
lassen
Meaning and usage: Lassen is broad. Letting a child play permits an action; having a bicycle repaired arranges an action. Leaving a bag somewhere keeps it there. You cannot assign a single English verb to every use.
Grammar: Strong, nonseparable: lässt, ließ. With another verb, use a bare infinitive and the relevant accusative object: jemanden warten lassen. The perfect commonly has an Ersatzinfinitiv: hat warten lassen. Without another infinitive: hat gelassen.
Ich lasse mein Fahrrad morgen reparieren.
I am having my bicycle repaired tomorrow.
verlassen
Meaning and usage: Verlassen describes departing from a place or leaving someone behind. Add sich and auf, and the meaning becomes relying on a person or resource. That is not simply another way of saying 'leave yourself'.
Grammar: Strong and inseparable: verlässt, verließ, hat verlassen. Leaving takes an accusative object. Relying uses accusative reflexive pronoun plus auf + accusative: ich verlasse mich auf dich.
Wir verlassen das Gebäude durch den Seiteneingang.
We leave the building through the side entrance.
Du kannst dich auf meine Hilfe verlassen.
You can rely on my help.
überlassen
Meaning and usage: Überlassen hands the use, care or decision to somebody else. It may be temporary or permanent, depending on context. Leaving someone the choice gives them control of that decision.
Grammar: Strong and inseparable: überlässt, überließ, hat überlassen. Typically someone (dative) something (accusative): jemandem die Entscheidung überlassen. In this sense, über- is not separated.
Ich überlasse dir die Wahl des Restaurants.
I leave the choice of restaurant to you.
zulassen
Meaning and usage: Zulassen means allowing something to happen or granting access to an activity. An organization may admit candidates to an examination. It can also mean keeping something closed in colloquial contexts, so a closed window requires different interpretation.
Grammar: Strong and separable: lässt zu, ließ zu, hat zugelassen. Use an accusative object or dass-clause. Admission often uses jemanden zu + dative zulassen, such as zu einer Prüfung.
Die Leitung lässt flexible Arbeitszeiten zu.
The management allows flexible working hours.
Overlap and context
Lassen and zulassen overlap in permission, but lassen commonly combines with a bare infinitive while zulassen can name the allowed thing directly. Überlassen adds another person's control or use. Verlassen without sich auf normally describes departure rather than delegation.
Common mistakes
- Do not add zu in Ich lasse ihn gehen.
- Reliance requires both pieces: sich auf jemanden verlassen.
- Überlassen stays together, whereas zulassen separates in a main clause.
Memory aid: Let an action happen; leave a place; leave a choice to someone; allow an outcome.
Try it
Complete: Ich ___ dir die Entscheidung. You leave another person in charge of choosing.
Show the answer
überlasse
The decision is the accusative object and dir is its dative recipient.