Today we’ll be talking about the different flavors of the verb SCHRECKEN.
The basic meaning of this verb is TO FRIGHTEN, TO TERRIFY if used transitively or TO GET SCARED if used intransitively. Just a reminder: transitive verbs are verbs that take an object, like for example when you frighten someone – here someone is the direct object. Intransitive verbs don’t take an object, like for example the verbs cry, sleep or come.
If you want to learn more about transitive and intransitive verbs, I have an article Transitive Verbs, Intransitive Verbs and More on my Prospero English blog, so feel free to check it out. It’s about transitive and intransitive verbs in English, but the same rules apply in German.
The verb SCHRECKEN is usually used with different prefixes that modify its meaning. Let’s have a look at some of them. But first, let’s have a look at how this verb is conjugated. The irregular forms are becoming obsolete but you can still sometimes see them.
Here’s the conjugation of the verb SCHRECKEN. There are two patterns with the intransitive form. Let’s start with the transitive form, though.
transitive SCHRECKEN – TO FRIGHTEN, TO TERRIFY
schrecken – schreckte – geschreckt (aux. haben)
| PRESENT TENSE | PAST TENSE |
| ich schrecke | ich schreckte |
| du schreckst | du schrecktest |
| er/sie/es schreckt | er/sie/es schreckte |
| wir schrecken | wir schreckten |
| ihr schreckt | ihr schrecktet |
| sie/Sie schrecken | sie/Sie schreckten |
intransitive SCHRECKEN – TO GET SCARED
schrecken – schreckte / schrak – geschreckt / geschrocken (aux. sein)
like the transitive verb or like this:
| PRESENT TENSE | PAST TENSE |
| ich schrecke | ich schrak |
| du schrickst | du schrakst |
| er/sie/es schrickt | er/sie/es schrak |
| wir schrecken | wir schraken |
| ihr schreckt | ihr schrakt |
| sie/Sie schrecken | sie/Sie schraken |
Verbs Derived from SCHRECKEN by Means of Prefixes
The verb is usually used in one of its many prefixed forms. Let’s have a look at the most common verbs that derive from the verb SCHRECKEN by means of prefixes.
erschrecken
to frighten / to scare / to be frightened / to get scared
Erschrecken Sie nicht, wenn Sie meinen neuen Nachbar sehen. Er wird Ihnen nichts antun, obwohl er ziemlich exzentrisch ist.
Don’t get scared when you see my new neighbor. He won’t harm you, although he’s pretty eccentric.
aufschrecken
to startle someone so that they move suddenly
Das Pferd wurde durch den Schuss aufgeschreckt. Es hat fast einen Herzschlag gekriegt.
The gunshot startled the horse. He nearly had a heart attack.
abschrecken
to deter, to scare off, to scare away
Sein Verhalten hat das Mädchen abgeschreckt. Er trinkt, arbeitet nicht und badet nur einmal im Monat.
His behavior scared the girl away. He drinks, he doesn’t work and only takes a bath once a month.
zusammenschrecken
to twitch from fear
Die Maus schreckte zusammen, als sie die Katze sah. Die Katze lächelte nur.
The mouse twitched when it saw the cat. The cat only smiled.
hochschrecken
to start up from fear, to jump from fear
Sie schreckte hoch, als sie die Stimme hinter sich hörte. Sie hatte sie nicht erwartet.
She jumped from fear when she heard the voice behind her. She hadn’t expected it.
zurückschrecken
to shy away
Karl schreckte zurück, als er einen Adler sah, der vorhatte, ihn anzugreifen.
Karl shied away when he saw an eagle that was about to attack him.
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