to expire / proceed / drain
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to expire
To reach the end of its period of validity or shelf life. Often refers to food, medication, or contracts.
Du kannst den Joghurt nicht mehr essen, er ist gestern abgelaufen.
You can't eat the yogurt anymore; it expired yesterday.
to proceed
To happen or take place in a particular way. Describes the course or process of an event.
Können Sie mir kurz erklären, wie die Prüfung ablaufen wird?
Could you briefly explain to me how the exam will proceed?
to drain
For a liquid to flow downward from a surface or out of a container, or to be directed away.
Lass das Nudelwasser erst vollständig ablaufen, bevor du die Soße dazugibst.
Let the pasta water drain completely before you add the sauce.
to wear down
To become worn through use, especially with shoe soles or tires, so that the tread disappears.
Die Sohlen meiner Wanderschuhe sind auf der letzten Tour stark abgelaufen.
The soles of my hiking boots were badly worn down on the last trip.
to walk around
To systematically walk along a route or visit a list of places, often for inspection or searching.
Der Wachmann muss jede Nacht mehrmals das gesamte Gelände ablaufen.
The security guard has to walk around the entire grounds several times every night.
'Ablaufen' is a separable verb. The prefix 'ab-' goes to the end of the main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Mein Reisepass läuft bald ab.
My passport expires soon.
Since 'ablaufen' describes a change (validity ends) or movement (water drains away), the perfect tense is always formed with the auxiliary verb 'sein' (to be).
Die Frist für die Bewerbung ist bereits abgelaufen.
The application deadline has already expired.
You can recognize the meaning of 'ablaufen' from the subject of the sentence. If it is a product or a contract, validity is meant. With an event, it is about the process. With a liquid, draining away is meant.
Der Film lief genau wie im Drehbuch beschrieben ab.
The film proceeded exactly as described in the script.
This meaning is often used for food, medication, documents, or contracts. Typical subjects are: der Joghurt (the yogurt), der Pass (the passport), das Visum (the visa), der Vertrag (the contract), die Garantie (the warranty), or eine Frist (a deadline).
Sein Arbeitsvertrag läuft Ende des Monats ab.
His employment contract expires at the end of the month.
To describe the course of an event, 'ablaufen' is often combined with adverbs. Common examples are: 'reibungslos ablaufen' (to proceed smoothly), 'nach Plan ablaufen' (to go according to plan), 'erfolgreich ablaufen' (to proceed successfully), or 'chaotisch ablaufen' (to proceed chaotically).
Dank der guten Vorbereitung ist die Konferenz reibungslos abgelaufen.
Thanks to the good preparation, the conference proceeded smoothly.
When a person actively makes sure that a liquid drains away, the construction with 'lassen' is often used: 'etwas ablaufen lassen' (to let something drain).
Nach dem Kochen lasse ich das heiße Wasser aus dem Topf ablaufen.
After cooking, I let the hot water drain out of the pot.
to get lost / to proceed
Verlaufen and ablaufen can both describe how an event happens. Verlaufen tends to emphasize the general development or outcome. Ablaufen focuses more on the actual process and its individual steps.
Die Prüfung lief genau nach dem vorher festgelegten Plan ab.
The exam proceeded exactly according to the plan established beforehand.
Die Prüfung verlief trotz der anfänglichen Unruhe erfolgreich.
Despite the initial commotion, the exam went well.
