to alternate / vary
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to take turns
When two or more people or things perform the same activity one after another or are in a certain state in alternation. You do something by taking turns.
Wir wechseln uns beim Fahren auf der langen Strecke ab.
We take turns driving on the long route.
'Abwechseln' (to alternate/vary) is a separable verb. The prefix 'ab' comes at the end of the sentence in a main clause. In subordinate clauses or in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb is not separated.
Die beiden Sängerinnen wechseln sich auf der Bühne ab.
The two singers take turns on stage.
The grammar indicates the meaning. 'Sich abwechseln' (to take turns) is reflexive and means that people or things act one after another. 'Etwas abwechseln' (to vary something) is transitive, needs an accusative object, and means to vary something.
Die Kinder wechseln sich beim Schaukeln ab.
The children take turns on the swing.
When taking turns with an activity, the preposition 'bei' + dative is often used. When taking turns with another person, you use 'mit' + dative.
Mein Kollege und ich wechseln uns bei der Betreuung der Kunden ab.
My colleague and I take turns looking after the customers.
The verb 'abwechseln' (to alternate/vary) is closely related to the noun 'die Abwechslung' (variety, change). When you vary something, you create variety.
Um für Abwechslung zu sorgen, wechselt sie die Themen ihrer Vorträge oft ab.
To create variety, she often varies the topics of her presentations.
to change / switch
'wechseln' and 'abwechseln' both have to do with change. 'wechseln' generally means that something else comes next or that you move on to something else. 'abwechseln' means that two or more people or things take turns, or that you make something more varied. Learners may confuse the words because both express a change. The important point is: with 'abwechseln', there is usually a pattern or back-and-forth, for example first Anna, then Tom, then Anna again.
Beim langen Termin wechseln sich Anna und Tom mit dem Protokoll ab.
During the long meeting, Anna and Tom take turns taking the minutes.
Im Restaurant wechselt du den Platz, weil es am Fenster zieht.
At the restaurant, you change seats because there is a draft by the window.