to proceed / to pay
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to proceed
Describes how something takes place, happens, or occurs. It is a more formal paraphrase of 'passieren' (to happen) or 'stattfinden' (to take place).
Die Evakuierung des Gebäudes ging ruhig und geordnet vonstatten.
The evacuation of the building proceeded calmly and in an orderly manner.
to pay a visit
To visit someone, often in a somewhat formal or official way.
Nächste Woche werde ich meiner alten Tante einen Besuch abstatten.
Next week I will pay my elderly aunt a visit.
to offer thanks
To thank someone formally.
In seiner Rede wollte der Preisträger allen Unterstützern seinen Dank abstatten.
In his speech, the award winner wanted to offer his thanks to all his supporters.
The verb 'statten' is no longer used on its own in modern language. It now exists only as part of fixed expressions such as 'vonstatten gehen' (to proceed), 'einen Besuch abstatten' (to pay a visit), or 'Dank abstatten' (to offer thanks).
Ich wollte nur kurz vorbeikommen und Ihnen einen Besuch abstatten.
I just wanted to drop by briefly and pay you a visit.
In the expression 'vonstatten gehen' (to proceed), 'vonstatten' behaves like a separable prefix of the verb 'gehen' (to go). In a main clause, 'vonstatten' comes at the end; in a subordinate clause, it is written together with the conjugated verb.
Das Fest ging ohne Probleme vonstatten.
The festival proceeded without any problems.
The expression 'einen Besuch abstatten' (to pay a visit) requires a person in the dative. The pattern is: jemandem (dative) einen Besuch abstatten.
Der Botschafter stattete dem Präsidenten einen Besuch ab.
The ambassador paid the president a visit.
The expression 'Dank abstatten' (to offer thanks) is also used with a person in the dative. The pattern is: jemandem (dative) Dank abstatten.
Der Gerettete wollte seinen Helfern persönlich Dank abstatten.
The rescued man wanted to offer his thanks to his helpers in person.
The expression 'vonstatten gehen' (to proceed) belongs to elevated or formal language. It is found more often in written reports or official announcements.
Die Wahl ging sehr geordnet vonstatten.
The election proceeded in a very orderly manner.
