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Writer's pictureDaniela Nienaber

hängen - transitive or intransitive?


"Hängen" is a verb that means "to hang" in English. In its intransitive use, it does not take a direct object and describes a state of suspension or being attached from above without support from below.




For example:


Der Affe hängt an der Bambusstange.


In this example, "hängen" is used without a direct object and describes the position of the object without any action being taken.










On the other hand, in its transitive use, "hängen" is used with a direct object and describes an action of hanging something. In this case, it is followed by an accusative object, and it means to suspend or attach an object from above without support from below.


For example:

Ich hänge das Bild an die Wand.

(I am hanging the picture on the wall.)


In this example, "hängen" is used with a direct object, describing the action of hanging the object.






In summary, the difference between "hängen" intransitive and transitive use in German is that in its intransitive use, "hängen" describes a state of suspension or attachment without support from below, while in its transitive use, "hängen" describes the action of suspending or attaching an object from above without support from below.






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