B1 verb #25 am häufigsten 3 Min. Lesezeit

burns

Erklärung von burns auf deinem Niveau:

When something is on fire, it burns. If you touch a hot stove, it burns your hand. It is a very hot feeling.

You use burns for fire or heat. For example, "The sun burns my skin in summer." You can also say "The candle burns for hours." It is a simple way to describe heat.

In this level, you can use burns for more than just fire. You can talk about "burning calories" when you exercise. It is also used for strong emotions, like when you feel a "burning desire" to do something.

At this level, you will encounter more idiomatic uses. We use burns in phrases like "burn bridges" or "burn the midnight oil." It helps you express complex ideas about effort, exhaustion, and social consequences.

Advanced learners use burns to describe abstract concepts. You might discuss how a political scandal "burns" a reputation or how a specific chemical process "burns" through materials. It is about nuance and intensity.

At the mastery level, you understand the etymological roots and the literary power of the word. You can use it in metaphors to describe the "burning" of time or the "burning" intensity of a character's internal conflict in a novel.

burns in 30 Sekunden

  • Used to describe fire and heat.
  • Can be literal or figurative.
  • Commonly used in idioms.
  • Simple present form is 'burns'.

When we use the word burns, we are usually talking about the process of combustion. Think of a campfire or a candle; these things burn to create light and heat.

Beyond just fire, we use this word to describe damage. If you leave toast in the toaster too long, it burns. It changes from bread to a charred, black substance.

Finally, it has a figurative side. If you are really angry, you might say your face burns with rage. It describes an intense, uncomfortable, or powerful feeling that feels like heat.

The word burn comes from the Old English word bærnan, which meant to light or kindle. It shares roots with the Old High German word brinnan.

Historically, it was used to describe everything from cooking food to the destructive power of forest fires. It has remained a core part of the Germanic language family for over a thousand years.

Interestingly, the word has kept its basic meaning throughout history. While other words have changed their definitions significantly, burns has stayed linked to heat and fire since the Middle Ages.

You will see burns used in many contexts. In daily life, we talk about things like "the sun burns my skin" or "the candle burns low."

In formal settings, you might hear about "burning calories" or "burning fossil fuels." These are common collocations used in health and environmental discussions.

The register is generally neutral. Whether you are talking to a friend or writing a report, burns is a perfectly acceptable and clear verb to use.

Burn the midnight oil: To work late into the night. Example: I have a big exam, so I have to burn the midnight oil.

Burn bridges: To destroy relationships permanently. Example: Don't quit your job in a way that burns bridges.

Burn a hole in your pocket: To have money you want to spend quickly. Example: That cash is burning a hole in my pocket!

Burn out: To become exhausted from overwork. Example: If you don't take breaks, you will burn out.

Burn the candle at both ends: To work very hard without resting. Example: She is burning the candle at both ends lately.

As a verb, burns is the third-person singular present form. For example: "The fire burns brightly."

The IPA for burns is /bɜːrnz/ in American English and /bɜːnz/ in British English. The 'r' is often dropped in British pronunciation.

It rhymes with words like turns, learns, churns, yearns, and urns. Remember that the stress is always on the single syllable.

Wusstest du?

It is one of the oldest verbs in the English language.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /bɜːnz/

The 'r' is silent or very soft.

US /bɜrnz/

The 'r' is clearly pronounced.

Häufige Fehler

  • Pronouncing the 'r' in UK English
  • Confusing with 'turns'
  • Stressing the wrong syllable

Reimt sich auf

turns learns churns yearns urns

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 2/5

Easy to read

Schreiben 2/5

Easy to write

Sprechen 2/5

Easy to speak

Hören 2/5

Easy to listen

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

fire hot heat

Als Nächstes lernen

combustion scorch char

Fortgeschritten

incinerate conflagration

Wichtige Grammatik

Third Person Singular

He burns

Active Voice

The fire burns

Phrasal Verbs

burn out

Beispiele nach Niveau

1

The fire burns.

fire/is-burning

Subject-verb agreement

2

The stove burns.

stove/is-hot

Simple present

3

The sun burns.

sun/is-hot

Third person singular

4

He burns the toast.

he/makes-toast-black

Active voice

5

The candle burns.

candle/is-lit

Simple present

6

It burns my skin.

it/hurts/skin

Object pronoun

7

The wood burns.

wood/is-fire

Subject-verb

8

The light burns.

light/is-bright

Simple present

1

The forest burns in the summer.

2

The candle burns all night.

3

The soup burns if you don't stir it.

4

The sun burns brightly today.

5

The gas burns to heat the house.

6

The paper burns quickly.

7

The skin burns after too much sun.

8

The oil burns in the lamp.

1

He burns calories at the gym.

2

The candle burns down to the base.

3

The desire for success burns within him.

4

The toast burns if you leave it too long.

5

The memory of that day burns in my mind.

6

The fuel burns efficiently in the engine.

7

The sun burns through the clouds.

8

The anger burns in his eyes.

1

He burns the midnight oil to finish his project.

2

She refuses to burn bridges with her former boss.

3

The scandal burns his reputation.

4

The athlete burns with ambition.

5

The fire burns out before morning.

6

The intense heat burns the crops.

7

The frustration burns inside her.

8

He burns with curiosity about the world.

1

The injustice burns in the hearts of the people.

2

The engine burns fuel at an alarming rate.

3

The memory burns bright despite the years.

4

The secret burns a hole in his conscience.

5

The sun burns across the horizon.

6

The controversy burns through the news cycle.

7

The passion burns with a quiet intensity.

8

The truth burns away all lies.

1

The city burns with the fires of revolution.

2

The star burns with a dying light.

3

The shame burns through his very soul.

4

The debate burns on for hours.

5

The legacy burns on in their children.

6

The hatred burns beneath the surface.

7

The fire burns through the dry brush.

8

The candle burns at both ends of the night.

Häufige Kollokationen

burn calories
burn out
burn down
burn brightly
burn with anger
burn through
burn toast
burn fuel
burn skin
slowly burns

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"burn the midnight oil"

work late

I have to burn the midnight oil for this project.

casual

"burn bridges"

ruin relationships

Don't burn bridges when you leave.

neutral

"burn out"

exhaustion

I am starting to burn out.

casual

"burn a hole in one's pocket"

wanting to spend money

That money is burning a hole in my pocket.

casual

"burn the candle at both ends"

overworking

He is burning the candle at both ends.

neutral

"burn up"

to have a fever

The child is burning up.

casual

Leicht verwechselbar

burns vs. burn vs bake

both involve heat

bake is for cooking, burn is for damage

I bake bread, but I burn toast.

burns vs. burn vs fire

both relate to heat

fire is a noun, burn is a verb

The fire burns the wood.

burns vs. burn vs heat

both raise temperature

heat is neutral, burn is destructive

I heat the soup, I don't burn it.

burns vs. burns vs turns

they rhyme

different meanings entirely

The fire burns while the wheel turns.

Satzmuster

A1

Subject + burns + Object

The sun burns my skin.

A2

Subject + burns + Adverb

The candle burns brightly.

B1

Subject + burns + with + Noun

He burns with anger.

B2

Subject + burns + down + Object

The fire burns down the house.

C1

Subject + burns + through + Object

The acid burns through the metal.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

burn an injury or mark caused by fire

Verben

burn the base form

Adjektive

burning on fire or very hot

Verwandt

sunburn a specific type of burn

So verwendest du es

frequency

8

Förmlichkeitsskala

Academic (combustion) Neutral (fire) Casual (burn out) Slang (burn someone)

Tipps

💡

Memory Palace

Imagine a candle in your kitchen.
💡

Native Speakers

Use it for work exhaustion.
🌍

Cultural Insight

Burning bridges is a serious social taboo.
💡

Grammar Shortcut

Always check for 's' in present tense.
💡

Say It Right

Rhyme it with 'turns'.
💡

Don't Make This Mistake

Don't use it for cold.
💡

Did You Know?

It's 1000 years old!
💡

Study Smart

Use flashcards for idioms.
💡

Verb Patterns

Use 'burn with' for emotions.
💡

Context

Use 'burn down' for buildings.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

B-U-R-N: Big Under-heat Really Noticeable.

Visuelle Assoziation

A bright orange flame.

Word Web

fire heat flame hot energy

Herausforderung

Write three sentences using 'burns'.

Wortherkunft

Old English

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: to kindle or set on fire

Kultureller Kontext

Be careful when using 'burn' to describe people, as it can be offensive.

Commonly used in idioms about work-life balance.

'Burn' by Usher 'Burn' from Hamilton

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Cooking

  • burn the toast
  • burn the dinner
  • don't let it burn

Science

  • burns fuel
  • burns oxygen
  • combustion process

Work

  • burn out
  • burn the midnight oil
  • burn bridges

Nature

  • sun burns
  • forest burns
  • fire burns

Gesprächseinstiege

"Have you ever burned toast?"

"Do you ever burn the midnight oil?"

"What makes you burn with anger?"

"How do you avoid burning out at work?"

"Have you ever seen a forest fire burn?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Write about a time you burned something.

Describe what 'burning with ambition' means to you.

How do you stay calm when you feel like you are burning out?

Reflect on the phrase 'don't burn your bridges'.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

8 Fragen
Both are correct; burned is more common in US English.
No, it is strictly for heat.
The noun is 'a burn'.
Yes, it is the third-person singular present.
It means to be exhausted.
Yes, like 'burns with anger'.
It is often treated as regular (burned), but 'burnt' is also used.
Like 'turns'.

Teste dich selbst

fill blank A1

The fire ___ brightly.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: burns

Third-person singular.

multiple choice A2

What does 'burns' mean?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: To be on fire

Burn is related to fire.

true false B1

You can 'burn' calories.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Richtig

It is a common collocation.

match pairs B1

Word

Bedeutung

Alles zugeordnet!

Idiom meanings.

sentence order B2

Tippe auf die Wörter unten, um den Satz zu bilden
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:

Subject-Verb-Object.

fill blank A2

She ___ the toast every morning.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: burns

Subject-verb agreement.

multiple choice B1

Which is an idiom?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Burn the midnight oil

Idiomatic phrase.

true false B2

To 'burn bridges' is a positive thing.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Falsch

It means destroying relationships.

fill blank C1

The intense ambition ___ within him.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: burns

Present tense.

multiple choice C2

What is the etymology of 'burn'?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Old English

It comes from Old English.

Ergebnis: /10

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