abfragen
to quiz
To check a person's knowledge by asking targeted questions, for example vocabulary or study material.
EXAMPLE
Die Lehrerin fragt morgen die unregelmäßigen Verben ab.
The teacher is going to quiz us on the irregular verbs tomorrow.
abfragen
to quiz / retrieve
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Meanings
abfragen
to retrieve
To request and retrieve specific information or data from a technical system, such as a database or network.
EXAMPLE
Die App fragt alle fünf Minuten den aktuellen Standort ab.
The app retrieves the current location every five minutes.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Abfragen' (to quiz / retrieve) is a separable verb. The prefix 'ab-' stands at the end in a main clause, the verb stays together in a subordinate clause, and in the infinitive with 'zu', 'zu' goes in the middle.
EXAMPLE
Der Lehrer fragt heute die Vokabeln ab.
The teacher is quizzing us on the vocabulary today.
Sentence structure with accusative
The typical structure for this verb is 'jemanden (Akkusativ) etwas (Akkusativ) abfragen' (to quiz someone on something). The person whose knowledge is being tested is therefore in the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Mein Vater fragt mich jeden Abend die Mathe-Formeln ab.
My father quizzes me on the math formulas every evening.
Context clue
The context and the object make the meaning clear. In a school setting, it is about knowledge ('Vokabeln abfragen' = to quiz someone on vocabulary); in a technical area, it is about information from a system ('Daten abfragen' = to retrieve/query data).
EXAMPLE
Kannst du mich bitte die Geschichtsdaten abfragen?
Can you please quiz me on the history dates?
Compare with
abfragen vs fragen
to ask
Fragen can refer to asking a learner a single question. Abfragen, by contrast, means checking knowledge in a targeted and usually systematic way, testing several areas of content. Use fragen for a single point; for testing a whole area of learning, abfragen is more appropriate.
abfragen
Die Lehrerin fragt den Schüler alle Hauptstädte Europas ab.
The teacher quizzes the student on all the capitals of Europe.
fragen
Die Lehrerin fragt den Schüler nach der Hauptstadt von Frankreich.
The teacher asks the student for the capital of France.
In real life
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