01
behalten
to keep
To leave something in one's own possession and not give it away, sell it, or return it.
example
Den Rest des Geldes können Sie als Trinkgeld behalten.
You can keep the rest of the money as a tip.
behalten
to keep
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Behalten' (to keep) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'be-' remains firmly attached to the verb stem 'halten' in all tenses and sentence constructions.
EXAMPLE
Er behielt das Geheimnis für sich.
He kept the secret to himself.
Use with the accusative
The verb 'behalten' (to keep) almost always requires a direct object in the accusative. You always keep 'etwas' (something).
EXAMPLE
Darf ich diesen Stift behalten?
May I keep this pen?
Sich etwas behalten
In the meaning 'sich erinnern' (to remember), 'behalten' is used reflexively with a dative pronoun. The structure is: 'sich (dative) etwas (accusative) behalten'.
EXAMPLE
Ich kann mir neue Vokabeln nur schwer behalten.
I have a hard time remembering new vocabulary.
Fixed expression
To express that someone does not pass on a secret, you use the fixed expression 'etwas für sich behalten' (to keep something to oneself). The reflexive pronoun changes according to the person.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du das bitte für dich behalten?
Can you please keep that to yourself?
Typical collocations
When 'behalten' (to keep) describes maintaining a state, it is often combined with abstract nouns. Common expressions are 'die Ruhe bewahren' (to keep calm), 'die Nerven behalten' (to keep one's nerve), or 'einen kühlen Kopf behalten' (to keep a cool head).
EXAMPLE
Obwohl alle panisch waren, hat sie die Nerven behalten.
Although everyone was panicking, she kept her nerve.
Fixed expression
The expression 'Recht behalten' (to be proven right) means that an earlier claim or assumption has turned out to be correct. It describes the result over a longer period of time.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe es dir doch gesagt! Am Ende habe ich wieder einmal Recht behalten.
I told you so! In the end, I was proven right once again.
Compare with
behalten vs vergessen
to forget
'vergessen' and 'behalten' are opposites when it comes to information in memory. 'vergessen' means that you no longer remember something. 'behalten' means that something stays in your head. Learners may confuse 'behalten' because it can also mean not giving something away. In this relation, however, it is about memory: you can retain a rule in your memory or forget it.
behalten
Lena behält neue Wörter besser, wenn sie sie laut wiederholt.
Lena remembers new words better when she repeats them out loud.
vergessen
Ich habe den Namen des neuen Nachbarn leider vergessen.
Unfortunately, I have forgotten the name of the new neighbor.
In real life
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