to burn down
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to burn down
To be completely destroyed by fire; to burn down to the foundations.
Die alte Scheune ist nach einem Blitzeinschlag komplett niedergebrannt.
The old barn burned down completely after being struck by lightning.
'Niederbrennen' (to burn down) is a separable verb. The prefix 'nieder-' comes at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Das alte Lagerhaus brannte vollständig nieder.
The old warehouse burned down completely.
The verb is made up of the prefix 'nieder-' (which means 'downward') and 'brennen' (to burn). The meaning 'to burn down to the ground' is therefore quite literal.
Innerhalb einer Stunde brannte die Holzhütte nieder.
Within an hour, the wooden hut burned down.
The correct auxiliary verb depends on the meaning. When something burns down by itself (a change of state), you use 'sein'. When someone deliberately sets something on fire (an action), you use 'haben'.
Das unbewohnte Haus ist letzte Nacht niedergebrannt.
The unoccupied house burned down last night.
The verb is often used with adverbs like 'vollständig' (completely), 'komplett' (completely), or the phrase 'bis auf die Grundmauern' (down to the foundations) to emphasize total destruction.
Das Museum brannte bei dem Feuer bis auf die Grundmauern nieder.
The museum burned down to its foundations in the fire.
to burn
'verbrennen' and 'niederbrennen' both have to do with fire and destruction. 'verbrennen' is more general: paper, wood, or even a whole building can be destroyed by fire. 'niederbrennen' is used mainly for houses, villages, or similar larger things and almost always means complete destruction. It sounds stronger and often more dramatic. If just an object is destroyed in a fire, 'verbrennen' fits better. If a building is destroyed down to its foundations, 'niederbrennen' is more precise.
Das alte Bauernhaus brannte in der Nacht vollständig nieder.
The old farmhouse burned down completely during the night.
Im Ofen verbrennt das alte Papier sehr schnell.
The old paper burns very quickly in the stove.