to paraphrase / rewrite / transfer
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to paraphrase
To describe or explain something in other words, often in order to avoid a difficult word or to name something indirectly. The verb is inseparable.
Kannst du das Wort 'komplex' umschreiben? Ich verstehe es nicht.
Can you paraphrase the word 'complex'? I don't understand it.
to rewrite
To write a text or document again in order to change, correct, or improve it. The verb is separable.
Er muss den ganzen Bericht umschreiben, weil die Daten falsch waren.
He has to rewrite the whole report because the data was wrong.
to transfer
To have the registered owner of something (e.g., a piece of land, a vehicle) officially changed. The verb is separable.
Nach dem Kauf müssen wir das Auto auf meinen Namen umschreiben lassen.
After the purchase, we have to have the car transferred into my name.
This verb has a different meaning depending on separability. 'Umschreiben' (inseparable, stress on 'schrei') means 'to explain in other words'. 'Umschreiben' (separable, stress on 'um') means 'to rewrite' or 'to transfer officially'.
Er umschreibt das Konzept, damit alle es verstehen.
He paraphrases the concept so that everyone understands it.
Separability changes the sentence structure. With the separable variant, the prefix 'um' moves to the end of the main clause. With the inseparable variant, the verb always stays together.
Ich schreibe den Vertrag morgen um. (trennbar)
I will rewrite the contract tomorrow. (separable)
When it comes to changing an owner, the construction 'etwas auf jemanden umschreiben lassen' (to have something transferred into someone's name) is often used. The 'lassen' indicates that you arrange for this official act to be done at an authority.
Wir müssen das Haus noch auf meinen Namen umschreiben lassen.
We still have to have the house transferred into my name.
The inseparable form 'umschreiben' (to paraphrase) is often used to explain an unknown word or when you want to avoid a direct word. It is a useful strategy when speaking.
Ich weiß das deutsche Wort nicht, aber ich kann es umschreiben: Es ist ein Tier mit einem sehr langen Hals.
I don't know the German word, but I can paraphrase it: It is an animal with a very long neck.
to describe
Both beschreiben and umschreiben can mean explaining a concept in words. Beschreiben presents the thing more directly and describes its features; umschreiben explains it in other words or names it indirectly. Use umschreiben when you want to avoid a difficult word or replace a direct naming.
Die Lehrerin umschreibt den schwierigen Begriff mit einfacheren Worten.
The teacher paraphrases the difficult concept using simpler words.
Die Lehrerin beschreibt den Begriff direkt mit seinen wichtigsten Merkmalen.
The teacher describes the concept directly by explaining its most important features.
