rankommen
to get close
To approach a person or thing and come closer.
EXAMPLE
Das Reh ließ uns bis auf wenige Meter rankommen.
The deer let us get to within a few meters of it.
rankommen
to get close / get at
rankommen – kam ran – ist rangekommen
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Meanings
an etwas rankommen
to get at something
To be able to reach or retrieve something, even though it is difficult to access.
EXAMPLE
Ich komme an das oberste Regal nicht ran.
I can't get at the top shelf.
an jemanden rankommen
to get access to someone
To gain access to a person, get in touch with them, or be able to influence them.
EXAMPLE
An den berühmten Schauspieler kommt man nur schwer ran.
It's very difficult to get access to the famous actor.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry rankommen, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Present
| ich | komme ran |
|---|---|
| du | kommst ran |
| er/sie/es | kommt ran |
| wir | kommen ran |
| ihr | kommt ran |
| sie | kommen ran |
Simple past
| ich | kam ran |
|---|---|
| du | kamst ran |
| er/sie/es | kam ran |
| wir | kamen ran |
| ihr | kamt ran |
| sie | kamen ran |
Perfect
with sein
| ich | bin rangekommen |
|---|---|
| du | bist rangekommen |
| er/sie/es | ist rangekommen |
| wir | sind rangekommen |
| ihr | seid rangekommen |
| sie | sind rangekommen |
Commands
| du | komm ran! komme ran! |
|---|---|
| ihr | kommt ran! |
| Sie | kommen Sie ran! |
Past perfect
| ich | war rangekommen |
|---|---|
| du | warst rangekommen |
| er/sie/es | war rangekommen |
| wir | waren rangekommen |
| ihr | wart rangekommen |
| sie | waren rangekommen |
Future
| ich | werde rankommen |
|---|---|
| du | wirst rankommen |
| er/sie/es | wird rankommen |
| wir | werden rankommen |
| ihr | werdet rankommen |
| sie | werden rankommen |
Subjunctive I
| ich | komme ran |
|---|---|
| du | kommest ran |
| er/sie/es | komme ran |
| wir | kommen ran |
| ihr | kommet ran |
| sie | kommen ran |
Used for reported speech.
Subjunctive II
| ich | käme ran |
|---|---|
| du | kämest ran kämst ran |
| er/sie/es | käme ran |
| wir | kämen ran |
| ihr | kämet ran kämt ran |
| sie | kämen ran |
Used for wishes and “would”.
Other forms
| infinitive | rankommen |
|---|---|
| with zu | ranzukommen |
| present participle | rankommend |
| past participle | rangekommen |
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Rankommen' consists of 'ran' (up to / close to) and 'kommen' (to come) and is separable. In a main clause, 'ran' comes at the end of the sentence; in a subordinate clause, the verb stays together. With 'zu', the form is 'ranzukommen' (to get close / to get at).
EXAMPLE
Der Hund kam langsam an den Zaun ran.
The dog slowly came right up to the fence.
Sie blieb im Zimmer, weil sie nicht näher rankommen durfte.
She stayed in the room because she wasn't allowed to get any closer.
Es ist schwer, an die Kiste ranzukommen.
It's difficult to get at the box.
Colloquial language
'Rankommen' is mainly used in spoken, colloquial language. It is especially common in situations where someone wants to get closer or reach something.
EXAMPLE
Komm ruhig näher ran, dann kannst du den Bildschirm besser sehen.
Feel free to come closer, then you can see the screen better.
Preposition and case
When 'rankommen' means being able to reach something, the complement usually follows 'an' with the accusative. The preposition is a fixed part of the usage pattern 'an etwas rankommen' (to get at something).
EXAMPLE
An die oberste Schublade komme ich ohne Leiter nicht ran.
I can't get at the top drawer without a ladder.
Making contact
With people, 'an jemanden rankommen' often refers to trying to gain access to that person. The person follows 'an' in the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Die Journalistin kam nur schwer an den zurückgezogen lebenden Musiker ran.
The journalist found it difficult to get access to the reclusive musician.
In real life
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