bestehen

Meaning and Usage

The word "bestehen" means "to exist" or "to consist" in English. It is also used to express "to pass" an exam or a test.

Linguistic Analysis

The word "bestehen" is a verb. It is a regular verb and its basic form is "bestehen." It can be broken down into the prefix "be-" and the root "stehen," which means "to stand." The prefix "be-" is used to form verbs indicating a successful or completed action.

Comparisons between German and English

The word "bestehen" can be translated to "to exist" and "to consist" in English. In addition, it can also be translated to "to pass" in the context of passing an exam or a test.

Cultural Context

In Germany, when students pass their final high school exams, they are said to have "das Abitur bestehen," which means "to pass the Abitur" (equivalent to the A-levels or the baccalauréat in other countries).

Example Sentences

1. Der Turm besteht aus Stein. (The tower is made of stone.)
2. Sie hat die Prüfung bestanden. (She passed the exam.)

Memory Tips

To remember the meaning of "bestehen," think of the English word "better," which indicates improvement or success, similar to "bestehen" indicating passing a test.

Additional Vocabulary

• Existieren (to exist)
• Bestandteil (component)
• Durchfallen (to fail)

Gender and Plural (for nouns)

N/A

Conjugation (for verbs)

• Ich bestehe (I exist/pass)
• Du bestehst (You exist/pass)
• Er/sie/es besteht (He/she/it exists/passes)
• Wir bestehen (We exist/pass)
• Ihr besteht (You exist/pass)
• Sie bestehen (They exist/pass)