rattern
to rattle
To make a rattling, clattering, or buzzing noise, especially as a machine or vehicle.
EXAMPLE
Die alte Nähmaschine rattert seit Stunden.
The old sewing machine has been rattling for hours.
rattern
to rattle
rattern – ratterte – hat gerattert
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Meanings
rattern
to rattle along
To move along while making a rattling or clattering noise.
EXAMPLE
Der Zug ratterte langsam über die Brücke.
The train rattled slowly across the bridge.
rattern
to rack one's brain
In the fixed colloquial expression „im Kopf rattern“: to think hard or rack one's brain.
EXAMPLE
In meinem Kopf rattert es, aber mir fällt die Lösung einfach nicht ein.
My mind is racing, but I simply can't come up with the solution.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry rattern, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Present
| ich | rattere rattre |
|---|---|
| du | ratterst |
| er/sie/es | rattert |
| wir | rattern |
| ihr | rattert |
| sie | rattern |
Simple past
| ich | ratterte |
|---|---|
| du | rattertest |
| er/sie/es | ratterte |
| wir | ratterten |
| ihr | rattertet |
| sie | ratterten |
Perfect
with haben
| ich | habe gerattert |
|---|---|
| du | hast gerattert |
| er/sie/es | hat gerattert |
| wir | haben gerattert |
| ihr | habt gerattert |
| sie | haben gerattert |
Commands
| du | rattere! ratter!, rattre! |
|---|---|
| ihr | rattert! |
| Sie | rattern Sie! |
Past perfect
| ich | hatte gerattert |
|---|---|
| du | hattest gerattert |
| er/sie/es | hatte gerattert |
| wir | hatten gerattert |
| ihr | hattet gerattert |
| sie | hatten gerattert |
Future
| ich | werde rattern |
|---|---|
| du | wirst rattern |
| er/sie/es | wird rattern |
| wir | werden rattern |
| ihr | werdet rattern |
| sie | werden rattern |
Subjunctive I
| ich | rattere rattre |
|---|---|
| du | ratterst |
| er/sie/es | rattere rattre |
| wir | rattern |
| ihr | rattert |
| sie | rattern |
Used for reported speech.
Subjunctive II
| ich | ratterte |
|---|---|
| du | rattertest |
| er/sie/es | ratterte |
| wir | ratterten |
| ihr | rattertet |
| sie | ratterten |
Used for wishes and “would”.
Other forms
| infinitive | rattern |
|---|---|
| with zu | zu rattern |
| present participle | ratternd |
| past participle | gerattert |
Usage tips
Typical subjects
In this meaning, „rattern“ (to rattle) frequently has technical devices or vehicle parts as its subject. Typical collocations include „die Maschine rattert“ (the machine rattles), „der Motor rattert“ (the engine rattles), and „der Drucker rattert“ (the printer rattles); the noise is often described more precisely with an adverb.
EXAMPLE
Der alte Drucker rattert bei jeder Seite laut.
The old printer rattles loudly with every page.
Movement with noise
When describing movement, „rattern“ (to rattle) is often combined with a route or path. Prepositions such as „über“ (across/over) or „durch“ (through) are frequently used with the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Die Straßenbahn ratterte über die Schienen durch die Innenstadt.
The streetcar rattled over the tracks through the city center.
Fixed expression
The colloquial expression „im Kopf rattern“ (to rack one's brain) describes intense thinking. It very often occurs with „es“ (it) as an impersonal subject and „im Kopf“ (in one's head) as a fixed complement.
EXAMPLE
Man konnte förmlich sehen, wie es in seinem Kopf ratterte.
You could practically see his mind racing.
In real life
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