01
sich etwas vornehmen
to plan to do
To make a firm plan or form the intention to do something specific.
example
Für das neue Jahr habe ich mir vorgenommen, mehr Sport zu treiben.
For the new year, I've planned to do more sports.
vornehmen
to plan / carry out
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Separable verb
'Vornehmen' (to plan / carry out) is a separable verb. The prefix 'vor' comes at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Ich nehme mir für morgen nicht zu viel vor.
I'm not planning too much for tomorrow.
Sentence structure: a plan
When making a plan, the construction is reflexive: 'sich (Dativ) etwas vornehmen' (to plan something for oneself). It is often followed by an infinitive clause with 'zu'.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe mir vorgenommen, jeden Tag Deutsch zu lernen.
I've planned to study German every day.
Formal actions
In this meaning, 'vornehmen' (to carry out) is rather formal and is often used in official or technical contexts. Typical objects are abstract nouns like 'Änderungen' (changes), 'Anpassungen' (adjustments), or 'eine Messung' (a measurement).
EXAMPLE
Der Gutachter wird eine genaue Prüfung des Gebäudes vornehmen.
The assessor will carry out a precise inspection of the building.
Compare with
vornehmen vs planen
to plan
'planen' and 'sich etwas vornehmen' both have to do with intentions for the future. However, 'planen' puts more emphasis on organization: you think about when, how, and with whom something should happen. 'sich etwas vornehmen' is more about making a firm personal decision. Learners may confuse the words because both talk about future actions. As a simple guide: you set yourself a goal with 'sich etwas vornehmen', but you plan the exact steps with 'planen'.
vornehmen
Zu Hause nehme ich mir vor, am nächsten Tag endlich aufzuräumen.
At home, I resolve to finally clean up the next day.
planen
Die Fahrerin hat geplant, morgen früher zur Arbeit zu fahren.
The driver has planned to leave for work earlier tomorrow.
In real life
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