Verlängern

Verlängern is a German verb meaning to lengthen, extend, or prolong the duration of something. It can also refer to renewing the period of validity of a deadline, contract, or permit. The corresponding noun is Verlängerung.

Usage: It is a transitive verb that takes a direct object, for example: "Ich verlängere die Frist bis Montag." It applies to time spans, contracts, visas, insurance, and other terms of validity: "Die Laufzeit wurde verlängert," "Ich verlängere mein Visum um drei Monate." It can also describe extending a physical dimension, as in "das Kabel verlängern." The resulting extension is expressed with the noun form Verlängerung.

Grammar: Verlängern is a regular verb with the prefix ver- and is treated as inseparable in conjugation. Present tense: ich verlängere, du verlängerst, er verlängert, wir verlängern, ihr verlängert, sie verlängern. Präteritum: ich verlängerte, du verlängertest, er verlängerte, wir verlängerten, ihr verlängertet, sie verlängerten. Partizip II: verlängert. Passive: Die Frist wird verlängert. Reflexive use is possible: sich verlängern, e.g., "Die Wartezeit hat sich verlängert."

Etymology and usage notes: The verb combines the prefix ver- with a root related to length, conveying the sense of making something longer or extending its duration. It is widely used in administrative and everyday contexts, such as contracts, subscriptions, and travel documents, as well as in engineering or logistics when referring to increasing physical length or capacity. Synonyms include verlängern, ausdehnen, and ausweiten, though each word carries slightly different nuance.