vorhaben
to plan
To have the intention or plan to do something specific.
EXAMPLE
Was hast du am Wochenende vor?
What are you planning for the weekend?
vorhaben
to plan
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Meanings
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Vorhaben' (to plan / to intend) is a separable verb. The prefix 'vor' goes to the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive, the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe am Samstag etwas Schönes vor.
I have something nice planned for Saturday.
Two sentence patterns
You can use 'vorhaben' (to plan / to intend) in two ways: either with a direct object, often 'etwas' (something) or 'nichts' (nothing), or with an infinitive clause with 'zu' to describe a specific action.
EXAMPLE
Wir haben für die Ferien eine große Reise vor.
We have a big trip planned for the holidays.
Typical question
The question 'Was hast du vor?' (What are you planning? / What are you up to?) or, politely, 'Was haben Sie vor?' is a very common and natural way to ask about someone's plans, especially for the near future, such as the weekend or the evening.
EXAMPLE
Was hast du heute Abend vor? Wollen wir ins Kino gehen?
What are you planning tonight? Shall we go to the movies?
Word family
The corresponding noun for the verb 'vorhaben' (to plan / to intend) is 'das Vorhaben' (undertaking / plan). It refers to a plan, project, or intention, often in a more formal or larger context.
EXAMPLE
Der Bau der neuen Brücke ist ein teures Vorhaben.
The construction of the new bridge is an expensive undertaking.
Compare with
vorhaben vs Unternehmen
company / undertaking
Das Unternehmen is a noun here and refers to a planned, often challenging action. Vorhaben is a verb and expresses that someone intends to do something. Unternehmen is used for the action itself, while vorhaben is used for a person's plans.
vorhaben
Wir haben vor, im nächsten Jahr durch die Wüste zu reisen.
We plan to travel through the desert next year.
Unternehmen
Die Reise durch die Wüste ist ein schwieriges Unternehmen.
The journey through the desert is a difficult undertaking.
In real life
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