01
stellen
to put
To bring something to a specific place in an upright position.
example
Kannst du bitte die Gläser in den Schrank stellen?
Can you please put the glasses in the cupboard?
stellen
to put / to set
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Sentence structure with place information
In its basic meaning, 'stellen' (to put) has a fixed sentence pattern: someone puts something (accusative) in/at a place (accusative). The place information is in the accusative because it describes movement toward a destination.
EXAMPLE
Ich stelle die Milch in den Kühlschrank.
I put the milk in the fridge.
Reflexive use
The verb 'stellen' (to put/set) can be used reflexively ('sich stellen'). In this case, the meaning changes significantly. It can mean to surrender to an authority or to face a challenge.
EXAMPLE
Der Dieb hat sich am nächsten Tag der Polizei gestellt.
The thief turned himself in to the police the next day.
Word family
'Stellen' (to put/set) is the base verb for many important verbs with prefixes, such as bestellen, vorstellen, herstellen, or einstellen. If you recognize 'stellen', you can often work out the meaning of these more complex verbs more easily.
EXAMPLE
Können wir Pizza bestellen?
Can we order pizza?
Fixed expression
The combination 'eine Frage stellen' (to ask a question) is a very common fixed expression. The person being asked is in the dative.
EXAMPLE
Darf ich Ihnen eine persönliche Frage stellen?
May I ask you a personal question?
Sentence structure with dative
When someone faces something (e.g., a fear, a problem), that thing is in the dative. The pattern is: sich + dative object + stellen.
EXAMPLE
Er muss sich endlich seiner Verantwortung stellen.
He finally has to face his responsibility.
Typical collocations
In this meaning, 'stellen' (to set) is almost always used with devices that show or measure time. Typical combinations are 'den Wecker stellen' (to set the alarm), 'die Uhr stellen' (to set the clock/watch), or 'den Timer stellen' (to set the timer).
EXAMPLE
Hast du den Wecker auf 7:00 Uhr gestellt?
Did you set the alarm for 7:00?
Fixed expression
The expression 'zur Verfügung stellen' (to provide / make available) has a fixed structure: someone (subject) provides someone (dative) with something (accusative).
EXAMPLE
Die Firma stellt ihren Mitarbeitern Laptops zur Verfügung.
The company provides its employees with laptops.
Typical collocations
'Einen Antrag stellen' (to submit an application) is a fixed combination often used in bureaucratic contexts. You submit an application 'auf' something (accusative) or 'bei' an institution (dative).
EXAMPLE
Sie hat bei der Behörde einen Antrag auf Wohngeld gestellt.
She submitted an application for housing benefit to the authority.
Context clue
This meaning of 'stellen' (to catch/confront) is found almost exclusively in contexts where someone is pursued and confronted, e.g., in crime novels or news reports about crimes.
EXAMPLE
Die Polizei konnte den flüchtigen Bankräuber nach kurzer Verfolgung stellen.
The police were able to catch the fleeing bank robber after a short chase.
Typical collocations
The expression 'eine Diagnose stellen' (to make a diagnosis) belongs firmly to medical language. Only doctors or specialists can make a diagnosis.
EXAMPLE
Es war für die Ärztin nicht einfach, die richtige Diagnose zu stellen.
It was not easy for the doctor to make the correct diagnosis.
Fixed expression
The expression 'etwas in Frage stellen' (to call something into question) means to doubt something. What is being doubted appears as an accusative object.
EXAMPLE
Einige Wissenschaftler stellen diese ganze Theorie in Frage.
Some scientists call this entire theory into question.
Word structure
The verb 'sich verstellen' (to pretend / disguise oneself) is related to 'stellen' (to put/set). The inseparable prefix 'ver-' changes the meaning here to 'to act as if' or 'to feign'.
EXAMPLE
Er verstellte seine Stimme am Telefon, damit man ihn nicht erkennt.
He disguised his voice on the phone so that people would not recognize him.
Compare with
stellen vs tun
to do
'tun' and 'stellen' can both mean that you put something in a place. The difference is important: 'stellen' is used when you put something in an upright position or onto a surface, for example a bottle on the table. In this meaning, 'tun' is very general and rather colloquial. For example, you can say 'Tu das Buch in die Tasche' (Put the book in the bag), but in many situations a more specific verb sounds better. Learners may confuse the words because both describe movement to a place. For upright objects, 'stellen' is usually more precise.
stellen
Er stellt die Wasserflasche neben seinen Laptop.
He puts the water bottle next to his laptop.
tun
Tu die Bananen bitte in den Korb.
Please put the bananas in the basket.
In real life
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