Phrasalverb: Turn Down (Lautstärke & Ablehnung)
Lautstärke, Ablehnung, Nein sagen.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
'Turn down' means to lower the volume/intensity of something or to politely refuse an offer or invitation.
- Use it for volume or heat: 'Turn down the radio' (max 20 words)
- Use it for rejection: 'She turned down the job offer' (max 20 words)
- It is separable: 'Turn it down' is correct, 'Turn down it' is wrong (max 20 words)
Overview
turn down (leiser zu drehen).turn down (ablehnen). Dieses Phrasal Verb ist ein Überlebenswerkzeug für dein Sozialleben und dein Trommelfell. Es hat zwei Hauptaufgaben: Dinge leiser machen oder zu etwas Nein sagen.refuse benutzt, könntest du wie ein viktorianischer Bösewicht klingen. Turn down ist viel entspannter für das tägliche Leben.How This Grammar Works
turn zu nehmen und ein kleines Wort wie down daran zu kleben. Das ergibt ein „Phrasal Verb“. Die Bedeutung ändert sich komplett.turn down auch, ein Angebot abzulehnen? Stell es dir so vor: Wenn du etwas annimmst, „bringst du es hoch“ oder nimmst es auf.turn down the music oder turn the music down sagen. Beides ist perfekt.it benutzt, musst du es in die Mitte setzen: turn it down. Turn down it zu sagen klingt, als hätte dein Gehirn einen 404-Fehler.
Formation Pattern
turn down zu bilden, folgt einem bestimmten Pfad. So baust du ihn:
turn hinzu. Denk daran, es an die Zeitform anzupassen (z.B. turned, turning, turns).
down hinstellst.
down + [Nomen].
I turned down the job.
down.
I turned the job down.
down.
The music is loud. Turn it down.
turn down it zu sagen. Sogar deine Katze wird wissen, dass das falsch ist.
When To Use It
- Physische Regler: Wenn deine Spotify-Playlist die Fenster zum Zittern bringt oder wenn die Heizung in deinem Uber dich wie ein Grillhähnchen fühlen lässt.
- Soziale Angebote: Wenn ein Freund dich fragt, ob du auf eine Party gehst, du aber einfach nur Netflix schauen willst. Du
turn down(lehnst ab) die Einladung. - Berufliche Situationen: Wenn ein Unternehmen dir einen Job anbietet, der dich mit „Erfahrung“ statt mit Geld bezahlt. Dieses Angebot wirst du definitiv
turn down(ablehnen).
turn you down). Ich bin müde.“ Es klingt höflich, aber bestimmt.turn those down)?“ Das klingt viel netter als „Hör auf mit dem Krach!“, auch wenn es vielleicht etwas weniger befriedigend ist.
Common Mistakes
- Die Pronomen-Falle: Wie schon erwähnt, sag niemals
turn down itoderturn down him. Pronomen sind wie Introvertierte; sie lieben es, in die Mitte des Phrasal Verbs gequetscht zu werden. - Verwechslung mit „Turn off“:
Turn downbedeutet weniger.Turn offbedeutet null. Wenn du jemanden bittest, das Licht zuturn down, wird er es für eine romantische Stimmung dimmen. Wenn er das Lichtturns off, sitzt du jetzt im Dunkeln und haust dir wahrscheinlich den Zeh an einem Stuhl an. - Präpositions-Verwirrung: Manchmal versuchen Leute,
turn to downzu sagen. Es gibt keinto. Es ist einfach nurturn+down. - Die Zeitform vergessen: Phrasal Verbs müssen immer noch den normalen Verbregeln folgen. Wenn es gestern passiert ist, heißt es
turned down. Wenn es jetzt passiert, bist du dabei, es leiser zu machen (turning it down). Lass dich nicht vomdownvon den Grammatik-Basics ablenken.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
Wie schneidet turn down im Vergleich zu anderen Ausdrücken ab?
Turn down vs. Refuse: Refuse ist sehr förmlich und stark. Wenn du ein Geschenk ablehnst (refuse), könnte das unhöflich wirken. Wenn du ein Geschenk turn down, klingt es so, als hättest du einen guten Grund.Turn down vs. Reject: Reject wird oft für Dinge wie Kreditkartenanträge oder wissenschaftliche Experimente verwendet. Turn down ist für Menschen und soziale Angebote. Dein Schwarm gibt dir einen Korb (turns you down) (traurig); ein Automat rejects deine Münze (nervig).Turn down vs. Lower: Du kannst deine Stimme senken (lower), aber du drehst normalerweise die Lautstärke turn down. Benutze lower für physische Höhe oder Level.Turn down vs. Turn up: Das sind Gegenteile. Wenn du mehr Bass willst, turn it up. Wenn du die Nacht überleben willst, turn it down.Quick FAQ
F: Kann ich turn down für eine Person benutzen?
Ja! Wenn du jemanden um ein Date bittest und er Nein sagt, hat er dich turned you down. Das tut weh, aber die Grammatik ist korrekt.
F: Ist es okay, das in einer formellen E-Mail zu benutzen?
Absolut. „I am writing to turn down the offer“ ist ein standardmäßiger, professioneller Weg, um Nein zu sagen.
F: Besteht turn down immer aus zwei Wörtern?
Ja. In einem sehr speziellen Slang bezieht sich turndown (ein Wort) auf einen Hotelservice, bei dem das Bett gerichtet wird, aber für die Grammatik, die wir lernen, sind es immer zwei Wörter.
F: Kann ich die Klimaanlage turn down?
Ja. Das bedeutet normalerweise, sie weniger kalt zu machen (die Leistung verringern) oder die Temperatureinstellung niedriger zu stellen. Sei vorsichtig, denn „die Temperatur senken“ macht den Raum eigentlich kälter! Meistens meinen die Leute „den Lüfter leiser/schwächer machen“.
Conjugating 'Turn Down'
| Tense | Subject | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Present Simple
|
I / You / We / They
|
turn down
|
I turn down the heat.
|
|
Present Simple
|
He / She / It
|
turns down
|
She turns down the music.
|
|
Past Simple
|
All subjects
|
turned down
|
They turned down the offer.
|
|
Present Participle
|
All subjects
|
turning down
|
He is turning down the TV.
|
|
Past Participle
|
All subjects
|
turned down
|
The offer was turned down.
|
Contractions with Pronouns
| Full Form | Contraction | Usage |
|---|---|---|
|
I will turn it down
|
I'll turn it down
|
Future promise
|
|
Do not turn it down
|
Don't turn it down
|
Imperative/Command
|
|
He did not turn it down
|
He didn't turn it down
|
Past negative
|
Meanings
To reduce the amount of sound, heat, or light produced by a device, or to reject an offer, request, or application.
Volume/Intensity
To decrease the level of something (sound, heat, light).
“It's getting too hot in here; can you turn the heater down?”
“The lights were too bright, so he turned them down.”
Rejection/Refusal
To decline or refuse an offer, invitation, or proposal.
“He turned down the job because the salary was too low.”
“I had to turn down her invitation to the party.”
Folding (Rare/Specific)
To fold back the covers of a bed or the corner of a page.
“The hotel maid turned down the sheets while we were at dinner.”
“Don't turn down the corners of the book pages; use a bookmark.”
Reference Table
| Bedeutung | Objekt-Typ | Struktur 1 | Struktur 2 (falls zutreffend) | Beispiel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lautstärke reduzieren
|
Noun
|
Turn + Noun + Down
|
Turn Down + Noun
|
Turn the music down.
|
|
Lautstärke reduzieren
|
Pronoun
|
Turn + Pronoun + Down
|
N/A
|
Turn it down.
|
|
Angebot ablehnen
|
Noun
|
Turn + Noun + Down
|
Turn Down + Noun
|
Turn the offer down.
|
|
Angebot ablehnen
|
Pronoun
|
Turn + Pronoun + Down
|
N/A
|
Turn it down.
|
|
Einladung ablehnen
|
Noun
|
Turn + Noun + Down
|
Turn Down + Noun
|
Turn the invitation down.
|
|
Einladung ablehnen
|
Pronoun
|
Turn + Pronoun + Down
|
N/A
|
Turn it down.
|
|
Person abweisen
|
Pronoun
|
Turn + Pronoun + Down
|
N/A
|
Turn him down.
|
Formalitätsspektrum
I regret to inform you that I must decline the offer. (Professional)
I decided to turn down the job offer. (Professional)
I passed on the job. (Professional)
I swiped left on that gig. (Professional)
Turn Down: Zwei Schlüsselbedeutungen
Bedeutung 1: Reduzieren
- Volume Lautstärke
- Heat/AC Temperaturregelung
- Lights Helligkeit
- Brightness Bildschirmintensität
Bedeutung 2: Ablehnen
- Offer Job-/Angebotsvorschlag
- Invitation Soziale Einladung
- Request Formelle Anfrage
- Person Avancen abweisen
Turn Down vs. Turn Up vs. Turn Off
Verwendung von 'Turn Down': Nomen vs. Pronomen
Ist das Objekt ein Nomen (z.B. 'the music', 'the offer')?
Ist das Objekt ein Pronomen (z.B. 'it', 'them')?
Dinge, die du 'Turn Down' kannst
Lautstärke/Intensität
- • The music
- • The TV
- • The heating
- • The lights
- • The brightness
- • The AC
Ablehnungen
- • A job offer
- • An invitation
- • A request
- • A proposal
- • A person
- • An idea
Beispiele nach Niveau
Turn down the TV.
Baja el volumen de la tele.
Please turn it down.
Por favor, bájalo.
I turn down the radio.
Bajo la radio.
Can you turn down the music?
¿Puedes bajar la música?
I turned down the invitation.
Rechacé la invitación.
She didn't turn down the job.
Ella no rechazó el trabajo.
Turn the heater down, please.
Baja la calefacción, por favor.
Why did you turn it down?
¿Por qué lo rechazaste?
He had to turn down the offer because of the commute.
Tuvo que rechazar la oferta por el trayecto al trabajo.
If the music is too loud, just turn it down.
Si la música está muy alta, simplemente bájala.
The bank turned down my loan application.
El banco rechazó mi solicitud de préstamo.
I'm surprised she turned him down.
Me sorprende que ella lo rechazara.
The proposal was turned down by the board of directors.
La propuesta fue rechazada por la junta directiva.
I'm going to turn the volume down a notch.
Voy a bajar el volumen un poco.
They turned down our request for more time.
Rechazaron nuestra petición de más tiempo.
She turned down the chance to study abroad.
Ella rechazó la oportunidad de estudiar en el extranjero.
It is unwise to turn down such a lucrative opportunity.
No es prudente rechazar una oportunidad tan lucrativa.
The hotel provides a turn-down service every evening.
El hotel ofrece un servicio de cobertura todas las noches.
He turned down the intensity of his workout after the injury.
Redujo la intensidad de su entrenamiento tras la lesión.
The editor turned down the manuscript for being too derivative.
El editor rechazó el manuscrito por ser demasiado poco original.
The sheer volume of applications meant many had to be turned down.
El gran volumen de solicitudes significó que muchas tuvieron que ser rechazadas.
She flatly turned down any suggestion of a compromise.
Rechazó de plano cualquier sugerencia de compromiso.
The thermostat automatically turns down the heat at midnight.
El termostato baja automáticamente la calefacción a medianoche.
I couldn't possibly turn down a request from an old friend.
No podría rechazar una petición de un viejo amigo.
Leicht verwechselbar
Learners think 'turn down' means to stop the device entirely.
Learners use 'reject' for volume or in casual conversation where it sounds too harsh.
'Refuse' is often followed by an infinitive (to do), while 'turn down' is followed by a noun.
Häufige Fehler
Turn down it.
Turn it down.
Turn down the music off.
Turn down the music.
I turn down.
I turn it down.
Turn down the light off.
Turn down the light.
He turned down to the job.
He turned down the job.
I turned down her.
I turned her down.
Can you turn down the volume more quiet?
Can you turn down the volume?
The bank turned down to me.
The bank turned me down.
I turned down the offer because it was too loud.
I turned down the offer because the salary was low.
I'm turning down the radio off.
I'm turning the radio down.
The hotel turned down my bed sheets.
The hotel turned down the bed.
Satzmuster
Could you please turn down the ___?
I had to turn down the ___ because ___.
If you don't turn that ___ down, I'm going to ___.
The ___ was turned down by ___.
Real World Usage
Hey, sorry I had to turn down your invite! I'm swamped.
Thank you for the offer, but I have decided to turn it down.
Could you turn the AC down? It's freezing in here.
I can't believe he turned down that collab!
My credit card application was turned down.
Can you turn your music down? I'm trying to sleep!
Denk an die Pronomen-Regel!
turn it down, niemals turn down it. Das ist eine goldene Regel, also merk sie dir gut: Please turn it down.
Nicht mit 'Turn Off' verwechseln!
Sei kontextuell höflich!
Can you please turn down the music? sanfter als ein direktes Turn the music down!. Ein
please oder could you wirkt Wunder: Could you please turn down the volume?
Implizite Ablehnung bei Angeboten!
andere Optionen in Betracht ziehst, subtil andeuten, dass du bereit bist, ein Angebot abzulehnen. Das ist eine professionelle Art, mit mehreren Möglichkeiten umzugehen:
I might have to turn down your offer.
Smart Tips
Think of the pronoun as a magnet that is attracted to the verb 'turn'. It must stick to it before 'down' can be added.
Use 'decided to' before 'turn down' to make the rejection sound like a thoughtful process rather than a snap judgment.
Use 'dim' as a synonym for 'turn down' to expand your vocabulary.
Listen for the stress. Usually, the singer will emphasize 'DOWN' to make the rhythm work.
Aussprache
Stress on the Particle
In phrasal verbs like 'turn down', the stress usually falls on the particle ('down') rather than the verb, especially at the end of a sentence.
Linking
When 'turn' is followed by a pronoun starting with a vowel (like 'it'), the 'n' in 'turn' links to the 'i'.
Rising-Falling on 'Down'
Can you turn it ⤴down⤵?
A polite request.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Think of a thumb pointing DOWN: you are lowering the sound or saying 'No' (thumbs down) to an offer.
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a giant volume knob on a stereo. You turn it to the left (down) to make it quiet. Now imagine that same knob on a 'Job Offer'—you turn it down to say no.
Rhyme
When the music's a frown, turn it down. When the job's not for you, turn it down too!
Story
Little Timmy had a loud drum. His mom said, 'Turn it down!' Timmy was sad, so he offered his mom a cookie. His mom was on a diet, so she had to turn down the cookie. Timmy then turned down the covers on his bed and went to sleep.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Go to your kitchen or living room. Find three things with a volume or heat setting. Say out loud: 'I am turning down the [object].' Then, think of one thing you said 'no' to this week and say: 'I turned down the [thing].'
Kulturelle Hinweise
British speakers often use 'turn down' with 'a bit' to sound more polite and less demanding. 'Could you turn it down a bit?'
In the US, 'turn down' is very common in business. Turning down an offer is seen as a standard part of negotiation.
The 'turn-down service' is a specific luxury hotel tradition where staff prepare the bed for sleep.
The verb 'turn' comes from the Old French 'torner', meaning to rotate. 'Down' indicates the direction of the rotation on early mechanical dials.
Gesprächseinstiege
Have you ever turned down a job offer? Why?
What do you do when your neighbors' music is too loud?
If someone turned you down for a date, how would you feel?
Can you think of a time you turned down a great opportunity?
Tagebuch-Impulse
Häufige Fehler
Test Yourself
The music is too loud, can you ___?
Find and fix the mistake:
She decided to turn down it, even though it was a good offer.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Eu tive que recusar a oferta de emprego.'
Answer starts with: ["I...
Score: /4
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercisesThe music is too loud. Please ___ it ___.
Select the correct option:
Find and fix the mistake:
He turned down to the job offer.
She rejected the invitation.
1. Radio is loud, 2. Job offer is bad, 3. Room is cold
A: Did you get the job? B: Yes, but I ___.
'Turn down the volume' vs 'Turn down it'
down / turned / she / him
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesThe barista asked if I wanted to ___ the music in the cafe.
My boss asked me to turn down him politely.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Você pode abaixar o volume do jogo?'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the beginnings with their correct endings:
My phone battery was low, so I had to ___ the screen brightness.
They couldn't accept the invitation, so they turn it down.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'É importante recusar as distrações para se concentrar.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the actions with their objects:
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
No, you cannot. When the object is a pronoun like `it`, `them`, `him`, or `her`, it must go between `turn` and `down`. Always say `turn it down`.
Yes, it is a neutral and polite way to refuse something. However, adding 'I'm sorry' or 'I'm afraid' makes it even more polite in social situations.
`Turn down` means to lower the level (like volume 5 to volume 2). `Turn off` means to stop the device completely (volume 0).
Yes, but it means you are rejecting their romantic interest or their request/offer. It doesn't mean you are physically lowering them!
Absolutely. It is the standard way to describe declining a job offer, a contract proposal, or a business request.
Yes. You can `turn down the heater` or `turn down the oven` if it is too hot.
It is a luxury service where hotel staff enter your room in the evening to fold back the bed covers and prepare the room for sleep.
It is neutral. It is perfectly acceptable in both a casual conversation with a friend and a formal email to a recruiter.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Bajar / Rechazar
Spanish lacks the 'verb + particle' structure.
Baisser / Refuser
French verbs are not separable like English phrasal verbs.
Leiser machen / Ablehnen
The prefix goes to the very end of the sentence in German.
Sageru (下げ) / Kotowaru (断る)
Japanese relies on particles like 'o' and 'ni' rather than phrasal particles like 'down'.
خفض (khafada) / رفض (rafada)
Arabic verbs conjugate internally and do not use separate particles for these meanings.
Tiáo dī (调低) / Jùjué (拒绝)
Chinese uses resultative verb compounds rather than phrasal verbs.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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