The Core Difference: Intransitive vs. Transitive Verbs
The most important distinction between “steigen” and “steigern” is their grammatical function. “Steigen” is an intransitive verb, while “steigern” is a transitive verb.
What Does Intransitive Mean?
An intransitive verb is a verb that does not take a direct object. The action happens by itself or to the subject. In the case of “steigen,” it means “to rise,” “to climb,” or “to increase,” and the subject is the thing rising or climbing.
Example: Die Preise steigen. (The prices are rising.)
What Does Transitive Mean?
A transitive verb requires a direct object; someone or something is causing something else to happen. “Steigern” means “to increase” or “to raise,” but it is used when the subject causes the increase in something else.
Example: Die Firma steigert die Produktion. (The company increases the production.)
Usage of “steigen” in German
“Steigen” is often used when something changes or increases by itself, without a clear external cause. It is commonly used with nouns like prices, temperatures, numbers, or people climbing stairs.
- Die Temperatur steigt. (The temperature is rising.)
- Die Zahl der Teilnehmer steigt. (The number of participants is increasing.)
- Ich steige die Treppe hinauf. (I climb the stairs.)
Notice that in each of these examples, “steigen” does not take a direct object. The subject is performing the action on itself or is experiencing the change.
Usage of “steigern” in German
“Steigern” is used when someone or something actively increases something else. It always requires a direct object that receives the action.
- Wir wollen unsere Effizienz steigern. (We want to increase our efficiency.)
- Der Trainer steigert das Trainingspensum. (The coach increases the training workload.)
- Die Werbung steigert den Umsatz. (The advertising increases sales.)
Here, “steigern” is about making something grow or rise by deliberate action. If you can ask “What is being increased?” and answer with a noun, you likely need “steigern.”
Common Mistakes and Tips
Many German learners confuse these verbs and sometimes use them incorrectly. Here are some tips to help:
- If something increases by itself, use “steigen.”
- If someone or something increases something else, use “steigern.”
- Remember: “steigen” = no direct object; “steigern” = requires a direct object.
- Practice with phrases: “Die Preise steigen” (correct), but “Die Regierung steigert die Preise” (also correct, if the government is actively raising prices).
Summary Table: Steigen vs. Steigern
| Verb | Type | Translation | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| steigen | Intransitive | to rise, to climb, to increase (by itself) | Die Kosten steigen. (The costs are rising.) |
| steigern | Transitive | to increase, to raise (something) | Wir steigern die Produktion. (We are increasing the production.) |
How to Practice “steigen” and “steigern”
To master these verbs, try making your own sentences and pay attention to native usage. Read German news articles and notice how these verbs are used. You can also use language learning platforms like Talkpal to get interactive exercises and instant feedback on your sentences.
Conclusion
Understanding the difference between “steigen” and “steigern” is a small but crucial step toward sounding more like a native German speaker. Remember: “steigen” is used when something increases by itself, while “steigern” is used when something is being increased by someone or something else. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll find these verbs slipping naturally into your German conversations. For more tips, lessons, and interactive practice, check out Talkpal’s AI-powered German learning tools!
