to impose
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to impose
To prescribe a duty, burden, punishment, or rule for someone and force them to follow or bear it.
Das Gericht hat dem Angeklagten eine hohe Geldstrafe auferlegt.
The court imposed a heavy fine on the defendant.
to impose on oneself
To give oneself a rule, restriction, or obligation and stick to it.
Für die Fastenzeit hat er sich strenges Stillschweigen auferlegt.
For Lent, he imposed strict silence on himself.
Although the verb begins with 'auf-' (up/on), it is inseparable. The prefix always stays attached to the verb, and the stress is on the second syllable: 'auf-ER-legen'.
Der Trainer erlegt den Spielern strenge Regeln auf.
The coach imposes strict rules on the players.
This verb always needs a person in the dative on whom something is imposed. The thing that is imposed is in the accusative. The pattern is: subject + auferlegen + dative object + accusative object.
Die Firma legte ihren Mitarbeitern neue Verhaltensregeln auf.
The company imposed new rules of conduct on its employees.
'Auferlegen' (to impose) is a formal word and is used mainly in official, legal, or administrative contexts. It sounds very strong and binding.
Die Regierung hat der Industrie strenge Umweltauflagen auferlegt.
The government imposed strict environmental requirements on the industry.
Negative or burdensome things are often imposed. Typical combinations are: 'eine Strafe auferlegen' (to impose a punishment), 'eine Pflicht auferlegen' (to impose a duty), 'Sanktionen auferlegen' (to impose sanctions), or 'eine Steuer auferlegen' (to impose a tax).
Wegen des Verstoßes wurde dem Unternehmen ein hohes Bußgeld auferlegt.
Because of the violation, the company was given a large fine.
When you impose something on yourself, it is often about discipline or giving something up. Typical phrases are: 'sich eine Beschränkung auferlegen' (to impose a restriction on oneself), 'sich Disziplin auferlegen' (to impose discipline on oneself), or 'sich ein Verbot auferlegen' (to impose a ban on oneself).
Er hat sich für seine Diät einen strengen Ernährungsplan auferlegt.
For his diet, he imposed a strict eating plan on himself.
to oblige / commit
Both words can express a duty that someone must follow. Verpflichten emphasizes a person's legal or personal commitment to that duty. Auferlegen places more emphasis on an external authority prescribing a duty, burden, or rule and assigning it to someone.
Die Hausverwaltung legte dem Mieter eine zusätzliche Reinigungspflicht auf.
The property management imposed an additional cleaning duty on the tenant.
Der Vertrag verpflichtet den Mieter, die Wohnung sauber zu halten.
The contract obliges the tenant to keep the apartment clean.
