to administer
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to administer
To deliberately give something to a person or animal, usually medicine, an injection, or food. The term is often used in a medical or caregiving context.
Die Krankenschwester verabreichte dem Patienten das Schmerzmittel.
The nurse administered the painkiller to the patient.
'verabreichen' (to administer) is an inseparable verb because it begins with the prefix 'ver-'. The prefix remains firmly attached to the verb 'abreichen' in all sentence forms and tenses.
Die Ärztin verabreicht dem Kind einen Hustensaft.
The doctor administers cough syrup to the child.
This verb almost always requires a person in the dative case (to whom something is administered) and a thing in the accusative case (what is administered). The structure is: subject administers [dative person] [accusative thing].
Der Tierarzt verabreichte der Katze eine Impfung.
The vet administered a vaccination to the cat.
'verabreichen' (to administer) is a formal word used mainly in medicine, pharmacy, or caregiving. It sounds very professional and detached.
Die Pflegekraft ist dafür geschult, Infusionen korrekt zu verabreichen.
The caregiver is trained to administer IV infusions correctly.
Common objects for 'verabreichen' (to administer) are things from the medical field. Typical phrases are: to administer medication, a dose, an injection, a tablet, or a painkiller.
Dem Patienten wurde die nächste Dosis des Antibiotikums verabreicht.
The patient was administered the next dose of the antibiotic.
to give
'geben' and 'verabreichen' can both mean that someone receives something. 'geben' is the normal, general word. 'verabreichen' is used mainly when talking about medicine, an injection, drops, or sometimes food in caregiving or medical contexts. It sounds more technical and more targeted than 'geben'. The words can be confused because in everyday language people also say: 'Die Ärztin gibt ein Medikament' (the doctor gives a medication). In a medical report, or when the exact treatment is important, 'verabreichen' fits better.
Die Ärztin verabreicht dem Kind nach der Untersuchung ein Medikament.
After the examination, the doctor administers a medication to the child.
Ida gibt ihrem Nachbarn im Büro ein Glas Wasser.
Ida gives her office neighbor a glass of water.