Führen, durchführen, einführen and aufführen in practical German
Führen means lead or guide in many contexts; durchführen means carry out; einführen means introduce, insert or import; aufführen means perform or list. The prefixed verbs are separable in these ordinary meanings. Choose the whole verb according to the activity rather than translating führen as “lead” inside every compound.
| Word | Core meaning | Typical context | Grammar |
|---|---|---|---|
| führen | lead; guide; conduct | a team; a discussion; a route | führt–führte–hat geführt |
| durchführen | carry out; conduct | a test, survey or procedure | führt … durch |
| einführen | introduce; insert; import | a new system; goods | führt … ein |
| aufführen | perform; list | a play; listed expenses | führt … auf |
führen
Meaning and usage: Führen can mean guiding a person, managing a team or conducting an activity such as a discussion. A road can führen to a place, without an object. These uses share guidance or direction, but their constructions differ.
Grammar: Not separable; führt–führte–hat geführt. Jemanden führen; ein Gespräch führen; zu + dative for a result or destination in führen zu.
Sie führt ein kleines Team in der IT-Abteilung.
She leads a small team in the IT department.
durchführen
Meaning and usage: Durchführen is common when a planned activity is actually carried out: a survey, inspection, experiment or operation. It does not guarantee the activity succeeds. This verb is useful in work and administrative texts but is not needed for every everyday task.
Grammar: Separable: führt durch–führte durch–hat durchgeführt. Usually an accusative activity as object. Infinitive with zu: durchzuführen.
Die Schule führt nächste Woche eine Umfrage durch.
The school conducts a survey next week.
einführen
Meaning and usage: Einführen means putting something into use, inserting it into a place or importing goods. It also introduces a person to a role, field or social setting. Ordinary introductions between two people more often use vorstellen, rather than automatically einführen.
Grammar: Separable: führt ein–führte ein–hat eingeführt. Etwas einführen; jemanden in etwas einführen uses in + accusative for the field introduced.
Das Unternehmen führt ein neues Buchungssystem ein.
The company introduces a new booking system.
aufführen
Meaning and usage: Aufführen describes presenting a play or musical work to an audience, or listing items in a document. In sich aufführen, it describes behaving in a particular way, often in criticism. The reflexive use is a separate construction.
Grammar: Separable: führt auf–führte auf–hat aufgeführt. Ein Stück or Kosten aufführen; sich aufführen has an accusative reflexive pronoun.
Der Bericht führt alle zusätzlichen Kosten auf.
The report lists all additional costs.
Overlap and context
Eine Untersuchung durchführen means conduct an investigation or examination; the same activity is not normally aufführen. You might list its costs with aufführen. Einführen can describe a new procedure before the first Durchführung, but the verbs do not form a required chronological sequence in every context.
Common mistakes
- For performing a play, do not use durchführen as the default: ein Theaterstück aufführen is the usual expression.
- Avoid Ich einführe das System in a main clause. Use Ich führe das System ein.
- Aufführen is not restricted to a theatre stage; lists are another everyday use.
Memory aid: Guide: führen. Carry through a task: durchführen. Bring into use: einführen. Put on or list: aufführen.
Try it
A report lists three reasons. Complete: Der Bericht ___ drei Gründe ___.
Show the answer
führt … auf
Aufführen means listing the reasons in this context.
Sources for meaning and usage
Brechen vs. abbrechen vs. unterbrechen vs. zerbrechen
Brechen is the broad verb for breaking, literally or figuratively. Abbrechen can mean breaking a part off or stopping something before completion. Unterbrechen means interrupting an activity, person or connection. Zerbrechen emphasizes something breaking apart or being broken. For activities, abbrechen usually suggests ending the current undertaking; unterbrechen suggests a break in its continuation.
| Word | Core meaning | Typical context | Grammar |
|---|---|---|---|
| brechen | break; break a rule or commitment | physical breakage and figurative breaches | Strong: brach, gebrochen; auxiliary depends on transitivity and sense. |
| abbrechen | break off; discontinue | parts, studies, experiments and events | Separable; brach ab, abgebrochen; hat or ist by sense. |
| unterbrechen | interrupt; suspend temporarily | speech, work and connections | Inseparable; unterbrach, hat unterbrochen; accusative object. |
| zerbrechen | break apart; shatter or break an object | fragile objects and figurative breakdown | Inseparable; zerbrach, zerbrochen; hat transitive, ist intransitive. |
brechen
Meaning and usage: Brechen can describe causing something to break or something breaking. It also appears with rules and promises. In a physical example, the object distinguishes breaking a branch from a branch breaking under pressure.
Grammar: Strong, nonseparable: bricht, brach, gebrochen. Causing breakage takes an accusative object and haben. For an object itself breaking, use sein: Der Ast ist gebrochen. Other senses have their own constructions.
Der dünne Ast bricht unter der Last.
The thin branch breaks under the weight.
abbrechen
Meaning and usage: Abbrechen describes detaching a part or ending an activity prematurely. It does not require a physical break. Cancelling an experiment midway is different from simply pausing it, even if you later start another experiment.
Grammar: Strong and separable: bricht ab, brach ab, abgebrochen. Ending an accusative activity uses haben. A part that breaks off itself, or a connection that cuts off, commonly uses sein.
Wegen des Gewitters haben wir die Wanderung abgebrochen.
Because of the thunderstorm, we abandoned the hike.
unterbrechen
Meaning and usage: Unterbrechen marks a disruption in a continuing activity or someone else's speech. A pause may be planned or unexpected. The verb suggests interrupted continuity; it does not guarantee that the activity will actually resume.
Grammar: Strong and inseparable: unterbricht, unterbrach, hat unterbrochen. Take an accusative person or activity. The prefix stays attached: ich unterbreche, not ich breche unter.
Entschuldigung, darf ich dich kurz unterbrechen?
Excuse me, may I interrupt you briefly?
zerbrechen
Meaning and usage: Zerbrechen highlights the resulting loss of an object's intact condition. It can describe accidental or deliberate damage. Figuratively, a friendship or alliance can zerbrechen. It does not always mean the object becomes many tiny fragments.
Grammar: Strong and inseparable: zerbricht, zerbrach, zerbrochen. Ich habe die Tasse zerbrochen names the cause with an accusative object. Die Tasse ist zerbrochen names the object's change.
Beim Umzug ist die blaue Schale zerbrochen.
The blue bowl broke during the move.
Overlap and context
Brechen and zerbrechen overlap in physical contexts; the latter often stresses breaking apart or the damaged result. Abbrechen and unterbrechen can both stop an activity, but differ in whether the current undertaking is discontinued or its flow is interrupted. Context decides whether later continuation is realistic.
Common mistakes
- Do not use unterbrechen for every cancelled event; a permanent cancellation is different from a pause.
- The participle is unterbrochen, without ge-.
- A broken bowl is ist zerbrochen; the person who caused it hat sie zerbrochen.
Memory aid: Ab stops or detaches; unter interrupts; zer points to the broken result.
Try it
You pause a meeting for ten minutes and plan to continue. Which verb fits best: abbrechen or unterbrechen?
Show the answer
unterbrechen
You suspend its continuation rather than abandon the current meeting.
Sources for meaning and usage
Teilen, verteilen, einteilen and mitteilen: share, distribute, organize and tell
Teilen means divide or share. Verteilen distributes something among people or across places. Einteilen organizes something into parts, groups or a schedule, and can assign people to tasks. Mitteilen communicates information to someone. English share can describe both sharing a cake and sharing news, but German constructions differ. Learn the objects and recipients with the verbs: a cake can be geteilt or verteilt; working time can be eingeteilt; a change of date can be mitgeteilt.
| Word | Core meaning | Typical context | Grammar |
|---|---|---|---|
| teilen | divide; share | Parts or something held in common | Weak: teilt, teilte, hat geteilt; no separable prefix. Etwas teilen takes accusative. Mit jemandem teilen uses mit + dative; in Teile teilen uses in + accusative. |
| verteilen | distribute | Recipients or places receiving portions | Inseparable ver-. Weak: verteilt, verteilte, hat verteilt. Etwas verteilen takes accusative; an + accusative can name recipients, auf + accusative an allocation across groups. |
| einteilen | divide into categories; organize or allocate | Groups, schedules and supplies | Separable ein-: teilt ein, hat eingeteilt. Etwas/jemanden einteilen takes accusative. In Gruppen einteilen uses in + accusative; zum Dienst can name an assigned role. |
| mitteilen | tell; communicate | Information sent to a recipient | Separable mit-: teilt mit, hat mitgeteilt. Jemandem etwas mitteilen: recipient dative, information accusative. For a clause: jemandem mitteilen, dass … . |
teilen
Meaning and usage: Teilen can split a whole or mean share something with another person. You can share a room, food or an opinion. Digital sharing is another familiar use. The word does not always mean equal portions: that information must come from context.
Grammar: Weak: teilt, teilte, hat geteilt; no separable prefix. Etwas teilen takes accusative. Mit jemandem teilen uses mit + dative; in Teile teilen uses in + accusative.
Ich teile die Pizza mit meiner Schwester.
I share the pizza with my sister.
verteilen
Meaning and usage: Verteilen emphasizes getting things to several recipients or locations. It can distribute leaflets, money or tasks, and spread a substance over a surface. Equal distribution is possible but not built into the verb: add gleichmäßig or gerecht if that matters.
Grammar: Inseparable ver-. Weak: verteilt, verteilte, hat verteilt. Etwas verteilen takes accusative; an + accusative can name recipients, auf + accusative an allocation across groups.
Die Lehrerin verteilt die Blätter an die Klasse.
The teacher distributes the sheets to the class.
einteilen
Meaning and usage: Einteilen focuses on arranging parts or deciding how resources will be used. It is practical for organizing your time, dividing people into groups or assigning a shift. The emphasis is the organization, not physically passing an item around.
Grammar: Separable ein-: teilt ein, hat eingeteilt. Etwas/jemanden einteilen takes accusative. In Gruppen einteilen uses in + accusative; zum Dienst can name an assigned role.
Wir teilen die Teilnehmenden in drei Gruppen ein.
We divide the participants into three groups.
mitteilen
Meaning and usage: Mitteilen informs someone of something relevant. It suits official messages but is not restricted to them. The content can be an accusative noun or a clause. Sich mitteilen also exists for expressing yourself or confiding in someone.
Grammar: Separable mit-: teilt mit, hat mitgeteilt. Jemandem etwas mitteilen: recipient dative, information accusative. For a clause: jemandem mitteilen, dass … .
Bitte teilen Sie mir Ihre neue Adresse mit.
Please tell me your new address.
Overlap and context
Sharing information can be etwas mit jemandem teilen or jemandem etwas mitteilen, depending on emphasis and context. They are not interchangeable word for word. Verteilen and einteilen can both concern tasks, but one presents distribution while the other presents organizing or assigning them. Watch the entire construction, not only the English translation.
Common mistakes
- Do not confuse mit in mit jemandem teilen with the separable prefix in mitteilen.
- Use mir, not mich, for the recipient in Teilen Sie mir den Termin mit.
Memory aid: Teilen splits or shares; verteilen spreads out; einteilen organizes; mitteilen tells. Picture a cake, a stack of sheets, a schedule and a message.
Try it
You want someone to tell you the new date. Complete with the pronoun for me: Kannst du ___ den neuen Termin mitteilen?
Show the answer
mir
Mitteilen gives the recipient dative case: jemandem etwas mitteilen.
Sources for meaning and usage
Verstehen, bestehen, entstehen and gestehen: similar forms, different actions
Verstehen means understand; bestehen can mean exist, pass, consist of or insist; entstehen means arise or come into being; gestehen means admit or confess. None of these verbs separates in the meanings here. The shared letters do not make their grammar or auxiliary identical.
| Word | Core meaning | Typical context | Grammar |
|---|---|---|---|
| verstehen | understand | words, explanations or people | verstand; hat verstanden |
| bestehen | exist; pass; consist; insist | exams; composition; demands | bestand; hat bestanden |
| entstehen | arise; come into being | a problem or new situation | entstand; ist entstanden |
| gestehen | admit; confess | an error or wrongdoing | gestand; hat gestanden |
verstehen
Meaning and usage: Verstehen can concern hearing intelligible speech, grasping an explanation or understanding someone’s feelings. Sich verstehen also describes getting along with another person. A learner may therefore understand individual words without understanding the full meaning.
Grammar: Inseparable ver-; versteht–verstand–hat verstanden. Jemanden/etwas verstehen uses the accusative. Sich mit jemandem verstehen has an accusative reflexive pronoun and mit + dative.
Ich verstehe die Wörter, aber ich verstehe die Frage noch nicht.
I understand the words, but I do not understand the question yet.
bestehen
Meaning and usage: Bestehen has several practical senses. Eine Prüfung bestehen means pass it; aus etwas bestehen means consist of it; auf etwas bestehen means insist on it. Used alone, bestehen can mean exist or continue in existence. Learn these as different constructions.
Grammar: Inseparable be-; besteht–bestand–hat bestanden. Exam object accusative; aus + dative for composition; auf normally dative for insisting. In + dative can state what an activity consists in.
Die Prüfung besteht aus drei Teilen, und ich habe alle drei bestanden.
The exam consists of three parts, and I passed all three.
entstehen
Meaning and usage: Entstehen presents something beginning to exist or arising from a situation. It can refer to a building, idea, misunderstanding or cost. It is not the transitive verb for creating an object: the thing that arises is the subject.
Grammar: Inseparable ent-; entsteht–entstand–ist entstanden. No direct accusative object in this meaning; aus + dative can name the origin.
Durch die Verspätung sind zusätzliche Kosten entstanden.
The delay caused additional costs to arise.
gestehen
Meaning and usage: Gestehen means admitting something, often something uncomfortable or wrong. It can be a legal confession, but everyday admissions also fit. A dative listener can be named, or a dass-clause can state what is admitted.
Grammar: Inseparable ge-; gesteht–gestand–hat gestanden. Etwas gestehen; jemandem etwas gestehen; gestehen, dass ….
Ich muss dir gestehen, dass ich den Termin vergessen habe.
I must admit to you that I forgot the appointment.
Overlap and context
Ein Problem besteht says it exists; ein Problem entsteht describes it arising. Ich habe verstanden means I understood; ich habe gestanden can mean I confessed, but gestanden is also the participle of stehen. Context identifies the verb. Do not read every form mechanically from a stem.
Common mistakes
- Avoid Ich entstehe ein Problem for “I create a problem”. Entstehen has the problem as its subject.
- Do not use bestehen aus for insisting: that sense uses auf.
- Verstehen and gestehen have different participles: verstanden and gestanden.
Memory aid: Understand; pass/exist; come into existence; admit. Attach each meaning to its own sentence pattern.
Try it
Complete: Der Kurs besteht ___ zehn Modulen.
Show the answer
aus
Consisting of parts uses aus + dative.
Sources for meaning and usage
Handeln, behandeln and verhandeln: act, treat or negotiate?
Handeln can mean act, trade or be about; behandeln means treat someone or deal with a subject; verhandeln means negotiate or hear a case in court. The prefix changes both meaning and construction. For identifying what something is, use the complete expression es handelt sich um.
| Word | Core meaning | Typical context | Grammar |
|---|---|---|---|
| handeln | act; trade; be about | taking action; commerce; a story | von + dative; es handelt sich um + accusative |
| behandeln | treat; cover; deal with | people; illness; a topic | direct accusative object |
| verhandeln | negotiate; hear in court | terms; prices; a court case | mit + dative; über + accusative |
handeln
Meaning and usage: Handeln describes taking action or conducting trade. When a book von something handelt, that is its topic. Es handelt sich um identifies a thing or situation, roughly “it is” or “we are dealing with”. The reflexive pronoun belongs to that fixed expression.
Grammar: Not separable; handelt–handelte–hat gehandelt. Handeln without an object for acting; mit + dative for trading; von + dative for a topic. Es handelt sich um + accusative is impersonal and reflexive.
Bei dieser Nachricht handelt es sich um einen Fehler.
This message is an error.
behandeln
Meaning and usage: Behandeln means treating a person in a certain way, giving medical treatment or addressing a topic. An article can ein Thema behandeln; a doctor can einen Patienten behandeln. The construction does not change just because the kind of treatment does.
Grammar: Inseparable be-; behandelt–behandelte–hat behandelt. A direct accusative person, condition, subject or matter is typical. Mit + dative can state a method or means of treatment.
Der nächste Abschnitt behandelt die wichtigsten Vertragsbedingungen.
The next section covers the most important contract terms.
verhandeln
Meaning and usage: Verhandeln usually describes discussions aimed at clarification or agreement. It can involve prices, employment terms or a dispute. In legal texts it also describes hearing a case. Negotiating is a process: the verb alone does not say an agreement was reached.
Grammar: Inseparable ver-; verhandelt–verhandelte–hat verhandelt. Mit jemandem über etwas verhandeln; mit is dative and über accusative. A direct object also occurs, especially for a matter or court case.
Wir verhandeln mit dem Anbieter über den Preis.
We negotiate with the supplier about the price.
Overlap and context
Das Buch handelt von Migration and das Buch behandelt Migration can both describe its subject. Handelt von frames what it is about; behandelt frames the topic being dealt with. At a market, handeln can mean bargaining, so it overlaps with verhandeln in that setting. Learn the whole construction rather than assuming three non-overlapping English labels.
Common mistakes
- Avoid Der Artikel handelt das Thema as your standard expression. Use handelt von dem Thema or behandelt das Thema.
- Avoid Es handelt um …. The identifying expression requires sich.
- Über den Preis verhandeln uses accusative, even though the conversation itself has no physical movement.
Memory aid: Act: handeln. Treat or cover an object: behandeln. Discuss terms toward agreement: verhandeln.
Try it
Complete: Es handelt ___ um eine neue Regel.
Show the answer
sich
Sich is required in the fixed impersonal identifying expression.
Sources for meaning and usage
Fordern vs. auffordern vs. anfordern vs. erfordern
Fordern means demanding something or challenging someone to perform. Auffordern means asking or instructing a person to act. Anfordern means requesting something to be supplied, such as documents or assistance. Erfordern means that something requires a resource or action. The key question is whether someone makes a demand or whether a task creates a requirement.
| 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.
Sources for meaning and usage
Kündigen, ankündigen and verkünden: notice versus announcements
Kündigen normally concerns ending an employment, rental or other contractual relationship. Ankündigen means announce something, often beforehand. Verkünden means publicly declare or proclaim something, often with a formal or emphatic tone. Ordinary news is not generally kündigen.
| Word | Core meaning | Typical context | Grammar |
|---|---|---|---|
| kündigen | give notice; terminate | Contracts, employment and rental arrangements | Regular, inseparable: kündigt, kündigte, hat gekündigt. |
| ankündigen | announce beforehand | Plans, visits, changes and forthcoming events | Regular and separable: kündigt an, kündigte an, hat angekündigt. |
| verkünden | publicly announce; proclaim | Results, decisions and declarations | Regular and inseparable: verkündet, verkündete, hat verkündet. |
kündigen
Meaning and usage: Kündigen expresses an intention to end a contractual relationship. You can kündigen a subscription or, without naming the object, say that you are resigning from your job. If the employer gives someone notice, the person commonly appears in the dative. The verb describes the linguistic action; it does not establish whether a notice is legally effective or which deadlines apply.
Grammar: Regular, inseparable: kündigt, kündigte, hat gekündigt. Einen Vertrag kündigen takes accusative; jemandem kündigen takes dative. The bare verb can describe resigning.
Ich kündige mein Fitnessstudio-Abonnement zum Monatsende.
I am canceling my gym subscription at the end of the month.
Die Mitarbeiterin hat gestern gekündigt.
The employee resigned yesterday.
ankündigen
Meaning and usage: Ankündigen makes something known before or in anticipation of it happening. A company may announce new hours; a guest may announce a visit. Reflexively, it can also mean signal its approach, as when a storm becomes apparent. This is not necessarily a solemn public declaration. A simple message to one colleague can be an Ankündigung.
Grammar: Regular and separable: kündigt an, kündigte an, hat angekündigt. Accusative object or a dass-clause; jemandem etwas ankündigen adds a dative recipient.
Die Schule kündigt für nächste Woche einen Elternabend an.
The school announces a parents’ evening for next week.
verkünden
Meaning and usage: Verkünden is useful for announcing results or decisions to an audience. It often suggests a formal, ceremonial or emphatic announcement, although not every use is solemn. It can also mean announce or foretell something more broadly. The publication context and tone usually distinguish it from an ordinary personal announcement with ankündigen.
Grammar: Regular and inseparable: verkündet, verkündete, hat verkündet. Accusative object or a clause identifying the declared information.
Die Vorsitzende verkündet das Ergebnis der Abstimmung.
The chair announces the result of the vote.
Overlap and context
Ankündigen and verkünden can overlap when a public statement concerns a future event. Their difference often lies in framing and tone. Kündigen has a different central use, even though it belongs to the same broader word family. A Kündigung can itself be angekündigt or publicly mentioned.
Common mistakes
- Do not say Ich kündige meinen Besuch when you simply announce a visit. Use Ich kündige meinen Besuch an.
- Separate an- in the main clause, but keep ver- and the root verb together: kündigt an versus verkündet.
- When translating give someone notice, check the object pattern: jemandem kündigen. That differs from einen Vertrag kündigen.
Memory aid: Kündigen ends an arrangement; an-kündigen announces what is coming; verkünden declares news to others.
Try it
Complete: Das Unternehmen kündigt neue Öffnungszeiten ___?
Show the answer
an
The company announces new hours. Ankündigen is separable; without an, kündigen would suggest termination.
Sources for meaning and usage
folgen vs. verfolgen vs. befolgen vs. erfolgen: meanings and usage in German
Folgen often means following someone or a line of thought and takes dative. Verfolgen takes accusative and can mean pursuing, tracking or following developments closely. Befolgen means acting according to advice, rules or instructions, also with accusative. Erfolgen means taking place, often in formal writing. Prefixes therefore change case, meaning and sometimes the perfect auxiliary.
| Word | Core meaning | Typical context | Grammar |
|---|---|---|---|
| folgen | follow | a person, argument or sequence | dative; usually ist gefolgt here |
| verfolgen | pursue or track | a goal, person or development | accusative; hat verfolgt |
| befolgen | comply with | advice, instructions or rules | accusative; hat befolgt |
| erfolgen | occur or take place | a payment or delivery | no direct object; ist erfolgt |
folgen
Meaning and usage: Use folgen when moving behind someone, following an explanation or acting on advice. It also expresses sequence: a discussion can follow a presentation. The followed person, argument or advice commonly appears in dative.
Grammar: Weak verb: folgte. These following and sequence uses form the perfect with sein: ist gefolgt. A separate obeying sense can use haben, so do not declare one auxiliary for every sense. Auf + accusative can express what an event follows.
Bitte folgen Sie der Mitarbeiterin zum Ausgang.
Please follow the employee to the exit.
Ich kann deinem Argument folgen.
I can follow your argument.
verfolgen
Meaning and usage: Use verfolgen for pursuing someone or a goal, or observing the course of something attentively. Tracking a delivery or following a discussion online need not involve chasing a person. Context determines whether pursuit, monitoring or another documented sense is intended.
Grammar: Inseparable ver-; verfolgte, hat verfolgt. The pursued or monitored thing is accusative. Do not transfer folgen’s dative pattern to this prefixed verb.
Wir verfolgen die Entwicklung des Projekts.
We are following the project’s development.
befolgen
Meaning and usage: Use befolgen when someone actually acts according to a rule or recommendation. Reading an instruction is not yet obeying it. The emphasis is compliance rather than physically following a person.
Grammar: Inseparable be-; befolgte, hat befolgt. The advice or instruction is accusative: den Rat, die Vorschriften. Do not insert ge- into the participle.
Alle Gäste müssen die Sicherheitsregeln befolgen.
All guests must follow the safety rules.
erfolgen
Meaning and usage: Use erfolgen for an event happening or a procedure being carried out, particularly in administrative descriptions. Die Zahlung erfolgt morgen describes when payment takes place. It does not mean someone succeeds merely because Erfolg means success.
Grammar: Inseparable er-; erfolgte, ist erfolgt. The event is the subject, and there is no ordinary direct accusative object. The auxiliary sein is important despite the absence of physical movement.
Die Lieferung erfolgt am Freitag.
Delivery will take place on Friday.
Overlap and context
Einem Rat folgen and einen Rat befolgen can describe the same compliance. The case changes with the verb. Einem Gespräch folgen emphasizes understanding it; ein Gespräch verfolgen can emphasize attending to its progress. Do not use verfolgen for neutral accompanying without considering its pursuit connotations. Erfolgen is especially useful for reading formal notices, but simpler active wording may be clearer in conversation.
Common mistakes
- Say Ich folge dir, but Ich verfolge dich; the meaning also changes.
- Keep ist erfolgt separate from hat befolgt.
- Do not assume erfolgen means succeed; learn its event-taking-place sense.
Memory aid: Follow a person in dative, pursue a target in accusative, obey a rule in accusative, and let an event take place as the subject. Read each prefix with its whole construction.
Try it
Complete with befolgen and the correct article: Bitte ___ ___ Rat der Trainerin.
Show the answer
befolge den
Befolgen takes the advice as an accusative object: den Rat. With folgen the construction would be Bitte folge dem Rat der Trainerin.