betten
to bed
To carefully lay someone or something in a bed or on a soft surface.
EXAMPLE
Die Mutter bettete das kranke Kind vorsichtig aufs Sofa.
The mother carefully laid the sick child on the sofa.
betten
to bed
betten – bettete – hat gebettet
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Meanings
sich betten
to bed down
To lie down to sleep or rest and settle into a place to sleep.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem langen Marsch bettete er sich auf einen Haufen Stroh.
After the long march, he bedded down on a pile of straw.
betten
to embed
To integrate something into an environment or context so that it is firmly anchored or appropriately situated within it.
EXAMPLE
Die Autorin bettet die Geschichte in die politischen Ereignisse ihrer Zeit.
The author embeds the story in the political events of its time.
zur letzten Ruhe betten
to lay to rest
To bury or inter a deceased person; this expression is elevated and often solemn in style.
EXAMPLE
Die Familie bettete den Verstorbenen zur letzten Ruhe.
The family laid the deceased to rest.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry betten, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Present
| ich | bette |
|---|---|
| du | bettest |
| er/sie/es | bettet |
| wir | betten |
| ihr | bettet |
| sie | betten |
Simple past
| ich | bettete |
|---|---|
| du | bettetest |
| er/sie/es | bettete |
| wir | betteten |
| ihr | bettetet |
| sie | betteten |
Perfect
with haben
| ich | habe gebettet |
|---|---|
| du | hast gebettet |
| er/sie/es | hat gebettet |
| wir | haben gebettet |
| ihr | habt gebettet |
| sie | haben gebettet |
Commands
| du | bette! bett! |
|---|---|
| ihr | bettet! |
| Sie | betten Sie! |
Past perfect
| ich | hatte gebettet |
|---|---|
| du | hattest gebettet |
| er/sie/es | hatte gebettet |
| wir | hatten gebettet |
| ihr | hattet gebettet |
| sie | hatten gebettet |
Future
| ich | werde betten |
|---|---|
| du | wirst betten |
| er/sie/es | wird betten |
| wir | werden betten |
| ihr | werdet betten |
| sie | werden betten |
Subjunctive I
| ich | bette |
|---|---|
| du | bettest |
| er/sie/es | bette |
| wir | betten |
| ihr | bettet |
| sie | betten |
Used for reported speech.
Subjunctive II
| ich | bettete |
|---|---|
| du | bettetest |
| er/sie/es | bettete |
| wir | betteten |
| ihr | bettetet |
| sie | betteten |
Used for wishes and “would”.
Other forms
| infinitive | betten |
|---|---|
| with zu | zu betten |
| present participle | bettend |
| past participle | gebettet |
Usage tips
Word family
'Betten' (to bed) belongs to the word family of 'Bett' (bed). The basic idea of the verb is to place someone or something in a particular location or firmly integrate it into something.
EXAMPLE
Die Pfleger betteten den Verletzten vorsichtig auf eine Trage.
The nurses carefully laid the injured person on a stretcher.
Elevated style
'Betten' (to bed) is especially common in elevated, literary, or solemn language. This also applies to its figurative use, in which something is integrated into a context.
EXAMPLE
Das kleine Dorf liegt malerisch in die grünen Hügel gebettet.
The small village lies picturesquely nestled among the green hills.
Accusative object
When 'betten' (to bed) means laying someone or something in a bed, the person or thing affected appears directly in the accusative without a preposition.
EXAMPLE
Die Pflegerin bettete den alten Mann nach der Untersuchung wieder bequem.
After the examination, the nurse made the old man comfortable again.
Reflexive use
In the meaning 'sich zum Schlafen hinlegen' (to lie down to sleep), 'betten' (to bed) is used reflexively. The reflexive pronoun depends on the person lying down.
EXAMPLE
Die Wanderer betteten sich für die Nacht auf weiches Moos.
The hikers bedded down on soft moss for the night.
Fixed combination
In its figurative meaning, 'betten' (to embed) is often used with 'in' and an accusative: something is integrated into a context, a period, or an environment.
EXAMPLE
Die Ausstellung bettet die Fotografien in einen historischen Zusammenhang.
The exhibition embeds the photographs in a historical context.
Solemn expression
'Zur letzten Ruhe betten' (to lay to rest) is a fixed, solemn expression used in connection with a person's death and burial.
EXAMPLE
Nach der Trauerfeier wurde der Verstorbene auf dem Friedhof zur letzten Ruhe gebettet.
After the funeral service, the deceased was laid to rest in the cemetery.
In real life
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