# German question: use of the word 'erteilen'

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-question-use-of-the-word-erteilen/853353>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 7, 2020, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-question-use-of-the-word-erteilen/853353 "2020-05-07T20:13:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-question-use-of-the-word-erteilen/853353/1 "2020-05-07T20:13:53Z")

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Hi

I’ve seen the word ‘erteilen’ used for "Aufgabe’(class work) but never for “Prüfung/Klausur”. I hope a native German speaker can tell me whether the word ‘erteilen’ can be used in the context of giving an exam. I look forward to your feedback.

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**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-question-use-of-the-word-erteilen/853353/2 "2020-05-07T23:11:51Z")

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If I understand this page [Forum - Duolingo](https://forum.duolingo.com/comment/31519121/What-is-the-difference-between-%E2%80%9Cgeben%E2%80%9D-and-%E2%80%9Certeilen%E2%80%9D), “erteilen” involves the conveying of non-tangible things - like “orders” or “assignments” or information, while “geben” can be used for physical objects or information. So I suspect only geben would be used in giving a test.

I wonder if “erteilen” is cognate to the English “impart”?

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**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-question-use-of-the-word-erteilen/853353/3 "2020-05-08T01:46:16Z")

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> [@Andy\_L](#):
>
> If I understand this page [Duolingo](https://forum.duolingo.com/comment/31519121/What-is-the-difference-between-%E2%80%9Cgeben%E2%80%9D-and-%E2%80%9Certeilen%E2%80%9D), “erteilen” involves the conveying of non-tangible things - like “orders” or “assignments” or information, while “geben” can be used for physical objects or information. So I suspect only geben would be used in giving a test.
> 
> I wonder if “erteilen” is cognate to the English “impart”?

Thanks Andy L. Veery helpful.

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**Author:** ![Remember\_me](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/82dd89/32.png) [@Remember\_me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Remember_me)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-question-use-of-the-word-erteilen/853353/4 "2020-05-08T07:08:20Z")

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You suspect correctly. “Erteilen” only goes with tasks, orders, permissions, licences and similar concepts, that are primarily non-material\*. You cannot use “erteilen” for the actual Klausur/Klassenarbeit/Test. However, you can use it for the particular tasks within the Klausur (etc.).  
E.g.: the task “describe/discuss how the actions the character X influence the outcome of the story.” Here, the word “erteilen” can be used.  
For questions, however, use “stellen” not “erteilen” (cognate: “pose a question”)

\*There is an exception: an administrative form can be “erteilt” (“Ein Formular erteilen”) although that is an actual physical object. This is used in a 1970s song by [Reinhard Mey](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt7NzJ1tyEg), a parody of red tape/bureaucracy.