100 German Verbs Face-Off (Part 3)

[B] to originate | Literally 'to arise/come into being'. 'Wie ist das Problem entstanden?' (How did the problem originate?). Often used for things forming or developing.

[A] to receive | A slightly formal word for receive/obtain. 'Wir haben Ihre E-Mail erhalten' (We have received your email). Also means to preserve (erhalten can mean keep).

[D] to meet | Also 'to hit' a target. 'Wir treffen uns um acht' (We're meeting at 8). Its past 'traf, getroffen'. Can be a noun: 'Treffen' (meeting).

[C] to search | Or to look for. 'Ich suche meine Schlüssel' (I'm looking for my keys). It’s straightforward, and very common when you've lost something!

[A] to lay | To lay/put something down (usually horizontally). 'Legen Sie das Buch auf den Tisch' (Lay the book on the table). For lying down (oneself), it's reflexive 'sich legen'.

[D] to introduce | A separable prefix verb: 'Stell dich vor!' (Introduce yourself!) Notice how 'vor' jumps to the end! It also means 'to imagine' if used reflexively ('sich etwas vorstellen').

[B] to deal | Means to deal or trade (commercially) and also 'to be about' ('Es handelt von...' – it's about...). Regular verb. Think 'Handel' (commerce) or 'handler'.

[C] to reach | To reach/achieve. 'Ich kann ihn nicht erreichen' (I can't reach him - e.g., by phone). Also for reaching a destination or goal. Regular verb.

[C] to carry | Whether carrying a bag or wearing a shirt, 'tragen' covers both. If it’s on your body or in your hands, you 'tragen' it. (Du trägst einen Hut = You're wearing a hat.)

[B] to manage | Here, 'schaffen' means to accomplish/manage (Ich habe es geschafft! = I did it!). Not to be confused with 'schaffen' (create) which is used slightly differently. Very context-dependent!

[D] to read | 'Wer lesen kann, ist klar im Vorteil' (Who can read has a clear advantage). Irregular (du liest, er liest; las, gelesen). Also in compound 'vorlesen' (to read aloud).

[A] to lose | 'Verlieren' is to misplace or be defeated. Past 'verlor, verloren'. Hopefully you won't 'verlieren' your keys often, and in this quiz, try not to 'verlieren' points!

[C] to depict | A separable verb meaning to represent/portray. 'Der Film stellt das Leben im Mittelalter dar' (The film depicts life in the Middle Ages). Also 'darstellen' can mean 'to constitute'.

[A] to recognize | 'Ich habe dich kaum erkannt!' (I hardly recognized you!). Also means 'to realize'. Past 'erkannte, erkannt'. It's like a lightbulb moment verb.

[B] to develop | Could be literal (develop a product) or abstract (develop an idea). Also used reflexively for 'to evolve'. Related to 'Wickel' (to wrap): think unfolding development.

[D] to talk | A more casual synonym for 'sprechen'. 'Worüber redet ihr?' (What are you guys talking about?). Regular verb. 'Reden' is just chatting away.

[D] to appear | Literally 'to look (a certain way)'. 'Du siehst müde aus' (You look tired). A separable prefix verb: prefix 'aus' goes to end. Very common for describing appearance.

[A] to appear | As in to show up or to be published. 'Sie erschien pünktlich' (She appeared on time). Also for a book release ('Das Buch erscheint nächsten Monat' – The book comes out next month).

[C] to form | Also 'to educate'. 'bilden' is to form or shape something. 'Eine Schlange bildet sich' (a line is forming). 'Bildung' means education — forming the mind.

[B] to begin | A separable prefix verb: 'Fang endlich an!' (Start already!). Irregular (fängt an, fing an, angefangen). Synonym to 'beginnen'. Often the one you use in daily talk.

[D] to expect | 'Ich erwarte dich um 5' (I expect you at 5). Can also mean 'to await'. Regular verb. No surprises here — except the ones you're expecting.

[C] to live | Specifically to reside. 'Ich wohne in München.' It's about where you live (in a dwelling). Not to be confused with 'leben' (to live, be alive) though overlap exists.

[A] to affect | Or 'to concern'. 'Das betrifft mich nicht' (That doesn't concern/affect me). Often used impersonally: 'Was mich betrifft...' (as far as I'm concerned).

[B] to wait | 'Warte mal!' (Wait a sec!). Regular verb. Also forms compounds like 'erwarten' (to expect). If you're impatient, you'll use 'warten' a lot asking others to hold on.

[C] to elapse | Literally 'to pass by' (time). 'Die Zeit vergeht schnell' (Time flies). It can also mean to decay (as in rot away). Irregular (verging, ist vergangen).

[B] to help | Takes dative case: 'Kannst du mir helfen?' (Can you help me?). Irregular (hilft, half, geholfen). A truly helpful verb, just remember to put the person in dative.

[D] to win | 'Und der Gewinner ist...' (And the winner is...). Past 'gewann, gewonnen'. Also used for gaining something ('Er gewann an Erfahrung' – he gained experience).

[A] to close | 'Bitte schließen Sie die Tür.' (Please close the door.). Past 'schloss, geschlossen'. Also used for 'to conclude': 'Schließen wir daraus, dass...' (We conclude from this that...).

[B] to feel | A reflexive version 'sich fühlen' is common: 'Ich fühle mich gut.' (I feel good.). It's a regular verb. Feelings in German are often expressed with this one.

[D] to offer | To offer/provide. 'Diese Firma bietet viele Dienstleistungen' (This company offers many services). Often in compounds like 'anbieten' (to offer something specific). Strong verb (bot, geboten).

[A] to interest | Usually used as 'sich interessieren für' (to be interested in). 'Ich interessiere mich für Geschichte.' (I'm interested in history). Regular verb with that reflexive twist.

[C] to remember | Used with 'sich': 'Ich erinnere mich' (I remember). Also to remind: 'Erinnere mich daran' (Remind me of that). Regular verb but requires that reflexive for remembering oneself.

[A] to result in | Often in the form 'etwas ergibt sich' (something results/arises). 'Daraus ergibt sich, dass...' (it follows that ...). Also means to surrender (sich ergeben).

[C] to offer | A separable verb: 'Er bietet Hilfe an.' (He offers help.) It's just 'bieten' with a prefix, often for offering something concrete. Past 'bot an, angeboten'.

[B] to study | Specifically at a university (studieren = to be enrolled in study). 'Ich studiere Chemie.' For studying for a test or in general, Germans often use 'lernen'. But 'studieren' is for higher education.

[D] to connect | Also 'to link'. 'Das Internet verbindet Menschen' (The internet connects people). Past 'verband, verbunden'. Also used for phone transfers: 'Ich verbinde Sie weiter'.

[B] to watch | Literally 'to look at'. 'Sieh dir das an!' (Look at that!). A separable verb. Also used as noun 'das Ansehen' meaning reputation (how people look at you).

[D] to lack | Or 'to be missing/absent'. 'Dir fehlt etwas' (You're missing something). In context: 'Mir fehlt nichts' (I'm lacking nothing / I'm okay). Also what you say when someone is absent: 'Er fehlt heute' (He's absent today).

[C] to mean | 'Was bedeutet dieses Wort?' (What does this word mean?). Regular verb. Easy to remember since 'bedeuten' has 'deut' like 'deuten' (to interpret), giving meaning.

[A] to compare | 'Vergleich nicht Äpfel mit Birnen!' (Don't compare apples to pears!). Past 'verglich, verglichen'. It’s cognate with 'like' (to liken things). Regular strong verb.