fassen
to grasp
To take hold of and hold onto someone or something with the hand or hands.
EXAMPLE
Er fasste meine Hand, um mich über die Straße zu führen.
He grasped my hand to lead me across the street.
fassen
to grasp / catch
fassen – fasste – hat gefasst
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Meanings
fassen
to catch
To catch and arrest a criminal or fugitive.
EXAMPLE
Die Polizei konnte den Dieb nach kurzer Verfolgung fassen.
The police were able to catch the thief after a short chase.
fassen
to grasp
To mentally grasp, understand, or emotionally process something. Often used in the negative form.
EXAMPLE
Ich kann es immer noch nicht fassen, dass ich im Lotto gewonnen habe.
I still can't grasp that I won the lottery.
sich fassen
to compose oneself
To regain self-control and calm after a shock or excitement.
EXAMPLE
Nach der Schreckensnachricht musste sie sich erst einmal fassen, bevor sie sprechen konnte.
After the terrible news, she first had to compose herself before she could speak.
fassen
to hold
To be able to contain a certain volume or amount of contents.
EXAMPLE
Dieses Fass fasst 200 Liter Wein.
This barrel holds 200 liters of wine.
einen Entschluss fassen
to make a decision
To make a decision, often after careful consideration.
EXAMPLE
Nach langem Nachdenken fasste sie den Entschluss, ihren Job zu kündigen.
After thinking for a long time, she made the decision to quit her job.
fassen
to put into words
To put thoughts, feelings, or an idea into words; to formulate something.
EXAMPLE
Er versuchte, seine Dankbarkeit in Worte zu fassen.
He tried to put his gratitude into words.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry fassen, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Present
| ich | fasse |
|---|---|
| du | fasst |
| er/sie/es | fasst |
| wir | fassen |
| ihr | fasst |
| sie | fassen |
Simple past
| ich | fasste |
|---|---|
| du | fasstest |
| er/sie/es | fasste |
| wir | fassten |
| ihr | fasstet |
| sie | fassten |
Perfect
with haben
| ich | habe gefasst |
|---|---|
| du | hast gefasst |
| er/sie/es | hat gefasst |
| wir | haben gefasst |
| ihr | habt gefasst |
| sie | haben gefasst |
Commands
| du | fass! fasse! |
|---|---|
| ihr | fasst! |
| Sie | fassen Sie! |
Past perfect
| ich | hatte gefasst |
|---|---|
| du | hattest gefasst |
| er/sie/es | hatte gefasst |
| wir | hatten gefasst |
| ihr | hattet gefasst |
| sie | hatten gefasst |
Future
| ich | werde fassen |
|---|---|
| du | wirst fassen |
| er/sie/es | wird fassen |
| wir | werden fassen |
| ihr | werdet fassen |
| sie | werden fassen |
Subjunctive I
| ich | fasse |
|---|---|
| du | fassest |
| er/sie/es | fasse |
| wir | fassen |
| ihr | fasset |
| sie | fassen |
Used for reported speech.
Subjunctive II
| ich | fasste |
|---|---|
| du | fasstest |
| er/sie/es | fasste |
| wir | fassten |
| ihr | fasstet |
| sie | fassten |
Used for wishes and “would”.
Other forms
| infinitive | fassen |
|---|---|
| with zu | zu fassen |
| present participle | fassend |
| past participle | gefasst |
Usage tips
Core meaning 'to enclose'
Many meanings of 'fassen' (to grasp / catch) share the basic idea of enclosing or being able to contain. You can grasp a hand (enclose it), a thought is grasped by the mind (understood), and you compose yourself again (bring your feelings under control).
EXAMPLE
Sie konnte die Nachricht kaum fassen.
She could hardly grasp the news.
Sentence structure with dative
When describing where you touch or grasp someone or something, the preposition 'an' or 'bei' is used with the dative. This is a fixed structure.
EXAMPLE
Die Mutter fasste das Kind an der Hand.
The mother took the child by the hand.
Context: criminal pursuit
In the meaning of 'fangen' (to catch), 'fassen' (to catch) is used almost exclusively for criminals, suspects, or escaped animals. It is typical language in police reports and news.
EXAMPLE
Die Polizei hofft, den Einbrecher bald zu fassen.
The police hope to catch the burglar soon.
Expression of disbelief
To express amazement or disbelief, 'fassen' (to grasp) is very often used in the negative form with 'können' (can). The phrase 'Ich kann es nicht fassen!' (I can't believe it! / I can't grasp it!) is very common.
EXAMPLE
Ich kann es nicht fassen, dass du das wirklich getan hast!
I can't grasp that you really did that!
Reflexive use
The reflexive form 'sich fassen' (to compose oneself) means to regain self-control after a shock or strong emotion. The person calming down is the subject of the sentence.
EXAMPLE
Atme tief durch und versuch, dich zu fassen.
Take a deep breath and try to compose yourself.
Fixed expression: decisions
The expression 'einen Entschluss fassen' (to make a decision) is a fixed collocation and a more formal way of saying 'sich entscheiden' (to decide). Other similar expressions are 'einen Beschluss fassen' (to pass a resolution) or 'einen Plan fassen' (to make a plan).
EXAMPLE
Der Stadtrat hat den Beschluss gefasst, eine neue Schule zu bauen.
The city council has made the decision to build a new school.
Fixed expression: formulating
The phrase 'etwas in Worte fassen' (to put something into words) means to express thoughts or feelings. It is often used when this is especially difficult.
EXAMPLE
Er konnte seine Freude kaum in Worte fassen.
He could hardly put his joy into words.
Compare with
fassen vs halten
to hold
Both words can describe grasping something with the hand. “Fassen” usually emphasizes the moment when you take hold of something. “Halten,” by contrast, emphasizes that you do not let go afterward.
fassen
Sie fasst das Glas vorsichtig mit der rechten Hand.
She carefully grasps the glass with her right hand.
halten
Sie hält das Glas fest in der rechten Hand.
She holds the glass firmly in her right hand.
In real life
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