to be startled / to frighten
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to be startled
To get a sudden fright; to become afraid because of something unexpected or threatening. This verb is intransitive and is conjugated irregularly (erschrecken, erschrickt, erschrak, ist erschrocken).
Ich bin furchtbar erschrocken, als du plötzlich hinter der Tür standest.
I was terribly startled when you suddenly stood behind the door.
to frighten
To give someone a fright; to suddenly scare someone intentionally or unintentionally. This verb is transitive and is conjugated regularly (erschrecken, erschreckt, erschreckte, hat erschreckt).
Du hast mich mit deiner lauten Stimme wirklich erschreckt.
You really frightened me with your loud voice.
This verb has two variants that must not be confused. A weak, transitive form means 'jemanden erschrecken' (to frighten someone) with 'haben' (to have). A strong, intransitive form means 'selbst erschrecken' (to be startled oneself) with 'sein' (to be).
Der laute Knall hat mich erschreckt.
The loud bang frightened me.
When a person gets a fright themselves, the verb is strong and intransitive. The perfect tense is always formed with 'sein' (to be). The cause of the fright often appears with the preposition 'vor' + dative.
Sie erschrickt bei jedem lauten Geräusch.
She is startled by every loud noise.
When one person frightens another person, the verb is weak and transitive. It needs an accusative object (wen? — whom?) and the perfect tense is formed with 'haben' (to have).
Hör auf, deine kleine Schwester zu erschrecken!
Stop frightening your little sister!
to shock
Schockieren and erschrecken can both describe a reaction to something unexpected. Erschrecken emphasizes a sudden fright or fear. Schockieren describes a stronger emotional impact and can involve not only fright but also horror or outrage.
Der plötzliche Knall beim schweren Unfall erschreckte die Zeugin.
The sudden bang during the serious accident frightened the witness.
Das ganze Ausmaß des schweren Unfalls schockierte die Zeugin zutiefst.
The full extent of the serious accident deeply shocked the witness.
