The idea
Present tense: ich widerspreche, du widersprichst, er/sie/es widerspricht, wir widersprechen, ihr widersprecht, sie/Sie widersprechen. Learn the sentence pattern jemandem oder etwas widersprechen together with the principal parts.
| Form | Deutsch |
|---|---|
| ich | widerspreche |
| du | widersprichst |
| er/sie/es | widerspricht |
| wir | widersprechen |
| ihr | widersprecht |
| sie/Sie | widersprechen |
| Präteritum | widersprach |
| Perfekt | hat widersprochen |
| Imperativ (du) | Widersprich! |
| Muster | jemandem oder etwas widersprechen |
Meaning and sentence pattern
Widersprechen takes dative and is inseparable. Wider means against here and is spelled without the e of wieder.
Learn this pattern as a unit: jemandem oder etwas widersprechen. The six situations below show the verb with concrete objects, complements or circumstances.
Form check
Ich widerspreche die Aussage.Ich widerspreche der Aussage.Widersprechen takes a dative object, even when the object is an abstract statement.
Examples
- Ich widerspreche dieser Darstellung des Ablaufs.I disagree with this account of the process.
- Du widersprichst der Aussage mit einem konkreten Beispiel.You contradict the statement with a concrete example.
- Der neue Bericht widerspricht den früheren Angaben.The new report contradicts the earlier information.
- Wir widersprachen dem Vorschlag aus praktischen Gründen.We opposed the suggestion for practical reasons.
- Sie hat der Behauptung deutlich widersprochen.She clearly contradicted the claim.
- Widersprich sachlich und nenne deine Gründe.Disagree objectively and state your reasons.
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Watch out
Widersprechen takes a dative object, even when the object is an abstract statement.
Try it yourself
du ___ (widersprechen, Präsens)
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widersprichst
widersprichst: this is the second-person singular present form.
er/sie ___ (widersprechen, Präteritum)
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widersprach
widersprach: this is the third-person singular simple past.
Perfekt: er/sie hat ___
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widersprochen
widersprochen: in this use the perfect tense is hat widersprochen.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
du ___ (widersprechen, Präsens)
er/sie ___ (widersprechen, Präteritum)
Perfekt: er/sie hat ___
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Read the six situations aloud, compare the verb forms, and complete the present, past and participle checks. Then write a new sentence that follows jemandem oder etwas widersprechen.