What is the difference between enden and beenden in German?
Many German verbs look so similar that it is tempting to assume they mean the same, but this is usually untrue. People often confuse the verbs "enden" and "beenden" for the same reason. So let's shed some light on these verbs.
Recommended study materials on the topic:
A-Grammar: Practice German grammar German (incl. answers)
B-Grammar: Practice German grammar German (incl. answers)
German self-study book for A1-B1 (incl. answers)
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The German verb "enden"
We can translate "enden" with the English "to end" or "to finish". "Enden" is an intransitive verb which means it cannot have an object. We use "enden" to express that something ends by itself. Besides, "enden" is a regular verb and therefore follows the usual verb conjugation.
For example:
Der Unterricht endet um 17 Uhr. → The lesson ends at 5 p.m
Der Film endet in 5 Minuten. → The movie ends in 5 minutes.
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The German verb "beenden"
The basis of "beenden" obviously is the verb "enden" which is also the main reason for the confusion. However, the additional "be-" means that "beenden" is a verb with a non-separable prefix. This means they usually have another meaning than the original verb (suchen → to search vs. besuchen → to visit).
Now, the verb "beenden" means that someone has finished something. Also, "beenden" is a transitive verb, meaning that this verb always (!) needs an Accusative object.
For example:
Die Lehrerin beendet den Unterricht pünktlich. → The teacher finishes the lesson on time.
Ich habe mein Studium beendet. → I have finished my studies.
Conclusion
I hope that after reading this article, things finally became clear. In case of a doubt, you can always ask yourself:
Does somebody finish something? = If so, choose "beenden" + Accusative object
Does something finish itself? = If so, choose "enden"
If you liked this article, check out the difference between “denken” und “nachdenken”!
Bis bald!
Steffie
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