Ergreifen

Ergreifen is a German verb with several related senses. The core meaning is to seize or grab something physically, to take hold of it, often with immediacy or decisiveness. It is also used in figurative contexts, such as seizing an opportunity: “die Gelegenheit ergreifen.” In addition, ergreifen can describe a strong emotional impact on a person, as in being deeply moved by something: “Der Bericht hat mich ergriffen.”

Etymology and usage notes: ergreifen comes from the verb greifen (to grasp) with the prefix er-, which adds a sense of completion or intensification. It is a transitive verb and can take a direct object in the accusative: ergreift die Hand, ergreift die Chance. The verb forms are irregular in the past: present ich ergreife, du ergreifst, er ergreift; wir ergreifen, ihr ergreift, sie ergreifen. Preterite: ergriff; perfect: hat ergriffen.

Common constructions: with opportunities or chances, often using the object noun in accusative: “Die Gelegenheit ergreifen,” “eine Chance ergreifen.” With objects of tangible grasp, as in “den Arm ergreifen.” In emotional contexts, the passive or intransitive use appears in participial forms: “Ich bin von der Nachricht ergriffen” or “Der Bericht hat mich ergriffen.”

Noun form and related terms: the noun form “das Ergreifen” denotes the act of seizing or, occasionally, the emotional effect of being moved. The verb is closely related to “greifen,” and a related noun “die Ergreifung” can refer to arrest or capture in legal or police contexts.

See also: greifen, Ergriffenheit, Ergreifung.