to ask / to demand
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to ask / demand
To ask someone or demand that they do something specific. The request can range from a friendly request to an order.
Der Polizist forderte den Fahrer auf, seinen Führerschein zu zeigen.
The police officer asked the driver to show his driver's license.
'Auffordern' (to ask / to demand) is a separable verb. The prefix 'auf-' goes at the end of the sentence in a main clause. In the infinitive with 'zu', 'zu' comes between the prefix and the verb.
Der Lehrer fordert die Schüler zur Ruhe auf.
The teacher tells the students to be quiet.
The most common construction is: jemanden (accusative) auffordern, etwas zu tun (to ask someone to do something). The object is followed by a subordinate clause with 'zu' and the infinitive at the end.
Sie forderte ihn auf, den Müll rauszubringen.
She asked him to take out the trash.
Alternatively, 'auffordern' (to ask / to demand) can also be used with the preposition 'zu' + dative. This structure is often somewhat more formal. Typical examples are 'zum Tanz auffordern' (to ask someone to dance) or 'zur Stellungnahme auffordern' (to request a statement).
Er forderte sie zu einem Tanz auf.
He asked her to dance.
to be called / to mean
Both heißen and auffordern can express that someone is supposed to do something. In this meaning, heißen is more like giving an order and sounds elevated or old-fashioned today. Auffordern is standard in modern German and can refer to either a request or a strict instruction, depending on the situation.
Der Hausherr forderte den Diener auf, die Tür zu schließen.
The head of the household asked the servant to close the door.
Der Gutsherr hieß den Diener die Tür schließen.
The lord of the manor ordered the servant to close the door.
