German Grammar A–Z
Look up German grammar topics A–Z, organized by category and level — with clear explanations and examples.
Distinguishing aufräumen / abräumen / ausräumen and aufmachen / zumachen / anmachen / ausmachen
In German, prefixes (Präfix) combined with verbs create new verbs with different meanings. The verb "räumen" means to tidy up or clear; what new verbs do we get when it is combined with the prefixes auf-, ab-, aus-? And what verbs do we get when "machen" is combined with auf-, zu-, an-, aus-? Today's article will help you tell apart two groups of verbs: aufräumen - abräumen - ausräumen and aufmachen - zumachen - anmachen - ausmachen.
Let's find out together!!!
1. The verb group aufräumen - abräumen - ausräumen
Aufräumen |
Abräumen |
Ausräumen |
To put everything back in order, neatly |
To clear everything away, removing everything unnecessary from a surface |
To take things out of a defined space, making that space empty |
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Your room is very messy. You have to clean your room this weekend. In this case you use aufräumen, because a messy room needs to be put back in order. Dieses Wochenende muss ich mein Zimmer aufräumen. (This weekend, I have to tidy up my room.) |
You go to a café and want to sit at a table, but the previous guest's glasses and cups are still on it. You want the waiter to clear the table. In this situation, the waiter's action of clearing the table is abräumen. The waiter clears away everything unnecessary on the table top, leaving only what is needed such as the vase, napkins, etc. Können Sie bitte diesen Tisch abräumen? (Could you please clear this table?) |
You are moving house and have to clear all the furniture out of your old apartment. Als ich letzte Woche umgezogen bin, musste ich alle Möbel aus der älteren Wohnung ausräumen. (When I moved last week, I had to clear all the furniture out of the old apartment.) |
2. The verb group aufmachen - zumachen - anmachen - ausmachen
Aufmachen |
Zumachen |
Anmachen |
Ausmachen |
To open something that does not use electricity, for example opening a window, opening the front door, opening a bottle of water, etc. |
To close something that does not use electricity - the opposite of aufmachen. |
To turn on/activate an electrical device such as a computer, TV, etc. |
To turn off/deactivate electrical devices: lights, computers, etc. |
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Hans macht das Auto auf und steigt ein. (Hans opens the car door and gets in.) |
Ich mache die Tür zu. I close the door. |
Katharina macht ihren Computer an. Katharina turns on her computer. |
Tina macht das Licht aus. (Tina turns off the light.) |
Synonym: öffnen |
Synonym: schließen |
Synonyms: anschalten, einschalten, used for devices with a switch. |
Synonyms: ausschalten, abschalten, used for devices with a switch. |
