ändert

ändert is the third person singular present tense form of the German verb ändern, which means to change, modify, or alter. It can be used transitively, as in changing something, or intransitively with reflexive sie/er pronouns, as in sich ändern, meaning to change oneself or to become different. The word also appears in common legal and administrative contexts when referring to amendments or revisions.

Grammar and forms: ändern is a regular (weak) verb. Present tense forms include ich ändere, du änderst, er/sie/es ändert, wir ändern, ihr ändert, sie ändern. The form änderte also serves in the simple past (Präteritum) for all persons, and the past participle is geändert. The present tense form ändern is also used with the plural ihr and the singular er/sie/es, making änd‑ the common stem in these forms. The noun derived from this verb is Änderung, meaning an alteration or amendment, and it is frequently used in legal, administrative, and everyday language.

Usage and nuances: ändern frequently appears with concrete objects, e.g., den Plan ändern (to change the plan), den Termin ändern (to change the appointment), or die Frist ändern (to change the deadline). It also appears in phrases like sich ändern (to change, to alter oneself or a situation) and in legal language as eine Änderung, an amendment or revision to a law or contract. Synonyms include verändern, modifizieren, and umbauen, depending on nuance and context.

Etymology and related terms: cambiar is a cognate concept in other Germanic languages; the noun Änderung complements the verb and is used to denote the result of the changing action. See also change-related terms such as Änderungsgesetz or Änderungsverfahren.

See also: Änderung, sich ändern, Änderungsgesetz, Änderungsverfahren.