to commit
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to commit
To commit a negative, usually criminal or morally reprehensible act. The word is used almost exclusively in connection with crimes, attacks, or wrongdoing.
Die Täter haben einen Anschlag auf das Gebäude verübt.
The perpetrators committed an attack on the building.
'Verüben' (to commit) is an inseparable verb with the prefix 'ver-'. This prefix often indicates a negative or wrong action, which fits the meaning of the word. The prefix remains firmly connected to the verb 'üben' (to practice) in all sentence forms.
Man wirft ihm vor, die Tat verübt zu haben.
He is accused of having committed the act.
This verb is almost only combined with words for serious negative acts. Typical collocations are 'ein Verbrechen verüben' (to commit a crime), 'einen Mord verüben' (to commit a murder), 'einen Raubüberfall verüben' (to commit a robbery), or 'Selbstmord verüben' (to commit suicide).
Die Gruppe hatte geplant, einen Raubüberfall zu verüben.
The group had planned to commit a robbery.
'Verüben' (to commit) belongs to formal language and is used mainly in the news, by the police, or in legal texts. It is very rare in everyday speech.
Laut Polizeibericht wurde das Verbrechen in der Nacht verübt.
According to the police report, the crime was committed during the night.
to commit / to celebrate
Begehen is the broader expression for carrying out a negative or punishable act and can also be used with mistakes. Verüben is used almost exclusively for criminal or particularly reprehensible acts and places greater emphasis on actively perpetrating them.
Der Täter verübte während des Überfalls eine schwere Gewalttat.
During the robbery, the perpetrator committed a serious act of violence.
Der Mitarbeiter beging bei der Abrechnung einen schweren Fehler.
The employee made a serious mistake in the accounting.
