All German word comparisons · Back to the topic overview
Meaning, sentence patterns and examples
| Word | Core meaning | Typical context | Grammar |
|---|---|---|---|
| schließen | close | Doors, openings and businesses | Nonseparable, irregular: schließt, schloss, hat geschlossen. |
| abschließen | lock; complete; conclude | Locked doors, finished projects and contracts | Separable: schließt ab, schloss ab, hat abgeschlossen. |
| verschließen | close securely; seal | Containers, doors and inaccessible places | Inseparable: verschließt, verschloss, hat verschlossen. |
| ausschließen | exclude; rule out | Participation, possibilities and causes | Separable: schließt aus, schloss aus, hat ausgeschlossen. |
schließen
Meaning and usage: Schließen is a general choice for closing a door, window or business. Closing a door does not necessarily say that it is locked. It also has established nonphysical meanings, including drawing a conclusion. Use the object and surrounding phrase to identify the intended sense rather than translating every occurrence as shut.
Grammar: Nonseparable, irregular: schließt, schloss, hat geschlossen. Commonly accusative object; the door itself can also schließen without a direct object.
Bitte schließe das Fenster vor dem Unterricht.
Please close the window before the lesson.
abschließen
Meaning and usage: Abschließen commonly adds the idea of locking a room or door. It also means bring a task to an end or conclude an agreement. Einen Vertrag abschließen does not mean lock the contract away. Mit etwas abschließen can mean bring that chapter to an end emotionally or practically. The object decides which sense is relevant.
Grammar: Separable: schließt ab, schloss ab, hat abgeschlossen. Usually accusative; mit + dative in ending-with or moving-on constructions.
Wir schließen den Mietvertrag nächste Woche ab.
We will conclude the rental agreement next week.
verschließen
Meaning and usage: Verschließen concerns making something securely closed or inaccessible. This can involve a lock, lid or other closure, so it is not restricted to keys. Reflexively it can describe refusing to open up to a person or issue. The physical and figurative uses share an idea of access being closed off.
Grammar: Inseparable: verschließt, verschloss, hat verschlossen. Accusative object; sich jemandem/einer Sache verschließen uses a reflexive pronoun and dative complement.
Verschließe die Dose nach jedem Gebrauch sorgfältig.
Close the tin carefully after each use.
ausschließen
Meaning and usage: Ausschließen means prevent participation, leave something outside a group or rule out a possibility. It can also make something impossible. In an assessment, eine Ursache ausschließen says that the cause is ruled out; it does not describe physically closing anything. The verb itself does not guarantee that a conclusion is correct.
Grammar: Separable: schließt aus, schloss aus, hat ausgeschlossen. Accusative object; von + dative for exclusion from participation.
Wir können einen technischen Fehler noch nicht ausschließen.
We cannot yet rule out a technical fault.
Overlap and context
A door can be geschlossen and also abgeschlossen or verschlossen. The broader adjective does not specify the same level or method of closure. Abschließen and verschließen overlap for locking, while finishing a project and excluding a participant belong to different established senses.
Common mistakes
- Separate ab- and aus- in main clauses, but keep ver- attached: schließt ab, schließt aus, verschließt.
- Do not assume abschließen always involves a key. Projects and contracts use nonphysical meanings.
- A closed shop is not necessarily permanently out of business. Schließen needs context about hours or permanent closure.
Memory aid: Close broadly; ab can lock or complete; ver closes access; aus keeps something out.
Try it
Complete: Wir können diese Möglichkeit nicht ___. Which verb means rule out?
Show the answer
ausschließen
A possibility is ruled out with ausschließen. The prefix separates in Wir schließen sie nicht aus.