All German word comparisons · Back to the topic overview
Meaning, sentence patterns and examples
| 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.