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A1 verb #31 am häufigsten 12 Min. Lesezeit

to stay

To remain in the same place or condition.

Top 31

At the A1 level, 'to stay' is one of the first verbs you learn to describe where you are. It is primarily used to talk about your location and simple durations. You use it to say you are 'staying at home' or 'staying in a hotel.' It is a very physical word at this level, focusing on not moving from a place. You might also learn it as a command for a pet or a child. The grammar is simple: 'I stay,' 'You stay,' 'He stays.' You learn to pair it with basic prepositions like 'at,' 'in,' and 'with.' For example, 'I stay with my family.' It is essential for basic travel conversations, such as telling a taxi driver where you are staying or answering a friend's question about your weekend plans. You also learn it in the context of time, like 'stay for five minutes.' The focus is on immediate, concrete situations that happen in your daily life. It helps you build the foundation for describing your presence in the world and your temporary living arrangements. At this stage, you don't need to worry about complex idioms or abstract meanings; just focus on the idea of remaining in one spot or living somewhere for a short time.

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'to stay' in more varied contexts, particularly concerning travel and health. You can describe your holiday plans in more detail, such as 'We are staying in a small hotel near the beach.' You also start using 'stay' as a linking verb followed by an adjective to describe a state, like 'stay healthy' or 'stay safe.' This is common in advice and well-wishes. You might also encounter phrasal verbs like 'stay up' (not go to bed) or 'stay out' (remain away from home). You can use the past tense 'stayed' to talk about previous experiences: 'Last night, I stayed at my friend's house.' The word becomes more useful for social interactions, such as inviting someone to 'stay for lunch.' You also learn the difference between 'stay' and 'live' more clearly, realizing that 'stay' is for temporary situations. You can handle simple questions about your duration of stay, like 'How long did you stay there?' This level focuses on expanding the environments where you can use the word, moving from just the home to hotels, hospitals, and social gatherings.

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At the B1 level, your use of 'to stay' becomes more nuanced and includes more abstract concepts. You use it to describe maintaining emotional or mental states, such as 'staying calm' or 'staying focused.' You are comfortable using it in various tenses, including the present perfect: 'I have stayed here many times.' You also start to use 'stay' in common idioms and expressions, like 'stay in touch' or 'stay out of trouble.' You can explain the reasons why you are staying somewhere, using more complex sentence structures. The word 'stay' also appears as a noun in your vocabulary, such as 'We enjoyed our stay at the resort.' You understand the subtle differences between 'stay' and synonyms like 'remain' or 'wait' in different contexts. You can use 'stay' to discuss professional situations, like 'staying on schedule' or 'staying within the budget.' This level is about moving beyond the physical and using the word to describe persistence, continuity, and professional or social obligations. You can also use it to give more detailed instructions or advice to others, showing a greater control over the word's versatility.

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At the B2 level, you use 'to stay' with greater precision and stylistic variety. You understand its role in more formal contexts and can choose between 'stay' and 'remain' based on the desired tone. You are familiar with a wider range of idioms, such as 'stay the course,' 'stay one step ahead,' or 'stay the hand.' You can use 'stay' to describe complex social and political situations, like 'staying neutral' in a conflict. Your grammatical use is sophisticated, incorporating it into passive structures or complex conditional sentences: 'If I had stayed longer, I would have seen the show.' You also recognize 'stay' in legal or technical contexts, such as a 'stay of execution' or 'staying a process.' You can use the word to express subtle shades of meaning, such as the difference between 'staying late' (working) and 'staying up late' (being awake). At this level, 'stay' is no longer just a basic verb but a tool for expressing persistence, resistance to change, and complex temporal relationships. You can use it fluently in both spoken and written English, adapting it to the specific needs of the conversation or document.

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At the C1 level, you have a near-native command of 'to stay' and its many layers of meaning. You can use it in highly idiomatic and metaphorical ways, such as 'staying the tide' or 'staying the rot.' You are sensitive to the rhythmic and stylistic effects of using 'stay' versus its synonyms in literature or formal rhetoric. You understand the historical roots of the word and how they influence its modern usage. You can use 'stay' in professional legal, medical, or technical jargon with ease. For example, you might discuss the 'staying power' of a new brand or the 'stay of proceedings' in a high-profile court case. You can also use it to describe very specific physical or mechanical actions, like a 'stay' used as a support in a structure. Your ability to use 'stay' as both a verb and a noun is seamless, and you can navigate the most complex grammatical constructions involving the word without hesitation. At this level, you are exploring the furthest reaches of the word's utility, using it to convey deep nuances of stability, endurance, and temporary suspension in both abstract and concrete realms.

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At the C2 level, you possess a masterly control over 'to stay,' using it with the same flexibility and nuance as a highly educated native speaker. You can appreciate and employ the word in its most literary, archaic, or specialized forms. You might use 'stay' in a philosophical discussion about the nature of being and remaining, or in a highly technical analysis of structural engineering. You are fully aware of the word's connotations in different dialects of English and can use it to achieve specific rhetorical effects. Whether you are using it in a complex legal argument, a piece of creative writing, or a high-level business negotiation, your choice of 'stay' is always precise and effective. You understand the most obscure idioms and can even create your own metaphors using the concept of 'staying.' The word is a fully integrated part of your vast vocabulary, allowing you to express the finest distinctions of time, state, and location. You can analyze the use of 'stay' in classic literature and understand how its meaning has evolved over centuries, applying this deep knowledge to your own sophisticated communication.

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to stay in 30 Sekunden

Stay primarily means to remain in a location rather than leaving it, which is essential for basic directions and plans.
It is the standard verb for temporary living arrangements, such as 'staying at a hotel' or 'staying with friends'.
As a linking verb, it describes maintaining a state, such as 'staying calm', 'staying healthy', or 'staying awake'.
The word also functions as a noun, referring to the period of time spent in a place, like 'a two-week stay'.

The verb to stay is a fundamental building block of the English language, primarily used to describe the act of remaining in a specific location, maintaining a particular state, or residing temporarily in a place that is not one's permanent home. At its core, 'stay' represents the absence of movement or change in position. When you stay somewhere, you are choosing—or being required—not to leave. This can apply to physical spaces, like staying at home during a rainstorm, or to abstract states, like staying calm during a difficult exam. The word is incredibly versatile and appears in almost every context of daily life, from travel and hospitality to health and emotional well-being.

Physical Presence: This is the most common use. It refers to not moving from a spot. For example, a teacher might tell a student to stay in their seat. It implies a continuation of the current position.

Please to stay right where you are until I return with the keys.

Temporary Residence: In the context of travel, 'stay' describes living somewhere for a short period. You stay at a hotel, a guest house, or a friend's apartment. This is distinct from 'living' somewhere, which implies a permanent or long-term arrangement.

Furthermore, 'stay' functions as a linking verb to describe remaining in a certain condition. If you 'stay healthy,' you are maintaining your health. If you 'stay awake,' you are resisting sleep. This usage is vital for describing persistence. In social settings, 'staying' often refers to the duration of a visit. 'Can you stay for dinner?' is a common invitation. In the world of pets, 'stay' is one of the most basic commands taught to dogs, requiring them to remain still until released. The word also carries a sense of endurance; to 'stay the course' means to keep going despite difficulties. Historically, the word comes from Old French 'ester' and Latin 'stare', both meaning to stand. This root highlights the physical stability inherent in the word. Whether you are staying put, staying the night, or staying positive, you are exercising a form of constancy that is essential for clear communication in English.

We decided to stay at the beach until the sun went down completely.

Maintaining a State: This involves staying in a condition like 'staying quiet' or 'staying focused'. It is about the continuation of an adjective or a quality over a period of time.

It is important to stay hydrated when you are exercising in the heat.

They asked him to stay after the meeting to discuss the private details.

I will stay with my grandmother for two weeks during the summer holidays.

Using the verb to stay correctly involves understanding its different grammatical roles. It can act as an intransitive verb, meaning it doesn't need a direct object, or as a linking verb, connecting the subject to an adjective. When you use it to mean 'remain in a place,' you often follow it with a prepositional phrase like 'at home,' 'in a hotel,' or 'with friends.' The choice of preposition is crucial for natural-sounding English. For instance, we 'stay at' a specific building or location, but we 'stay in' a city or a room. If you are visiting a person, you 'stay with' them. This distinction helps the listener understand the nature of your visit immediately.

The Linking Verb Pattern: Subject + Stay + Adjective. This pattern is used to describe maintaining a condition. Examples include 'stay safe,' 'stay warm,' and 'stay busy.' It focuses on the quality of the subject during the period of staying.

You must stay alert while driving long distances at night.

The Locational Pattern: Subject + Stay + Prepositional Phrase. This indicates where someone is remaining. 'She stayed at the library until midnight' or 'They are staying in London for the weekend.'

In more complex sentences, 'stay' can be used in the infinitive form ('to stay') or the present participle ('staying'). For example, 'I am staying' indicates a current, ongoing action, often used for temporary living situations. 'I am staying at my aunt's house' implies you are there now and will leave soon. You can also use 'stay' in the imperative form to give orders or strong advice: 'Stay away from the edge!' or 'Stay out of trouble.' In formal writing, 'stay' might be replaced by 'remain,' but 'stay' is far more common in spoken English. It is also used in the context of time: 'stay for an hour,' 'stay all night.' This emphasizes the duration of the presence. Understanding these patterns allows you to describe everything from your vacation plans to your emotional state with precision.

How long do you plan to stay in the city before moving on?

Duration and Time: When followed by a time expression, 'stay' highlights how long an action lasts. 'We stayed for three hours' shows the length of the visit.

The doctor told her to stay in bed until her fever went down.

If the weather is bad, we will just stay inside and play board games.

He promised to stay by her side throughout the entire recovery process.

The word stay is ubiquitous in everyday English, appearing in a wide variety of social, professional, and domestic settings. One of the most common places you will hear it is in the travel and tourism industry. At an airport, a customs officer might ask, 'How long are you planning to stay in the country?' At a hotel front desk, the receptionist will confirm, 'You are staying with us for three nights, correct?' This context is perhaps the most practical for learners to master, as it involves essential logistics and planning. Beyond travel, 'stay' is a staple of domestic life. Parents frequently use it with children: 'Stay close to me in the store' or 'Stay away from the stove.' It is a word of safety and boundary-setting.

Hospitality and Travel: In hotels, restaurants, and airports, 'stay' is used to discuss the duration and location of a visit. It is the standard term for temporary lodging.

Did you enjoy your stay at our resort last summer?

Medical and Health Contexts: Doctors and nurses use 'stay' to give instructions about recovery. 'You need to stay hydrated' or 'You must stay in bed' are common medical directives.

In the workplace, 'stay' is used to discuss project timelines and employee retention. A manager might say, 'We need to stay on schedule to meet the deadline,' or 'We want our best employees to stay with the company for a long time.' In social media and modern digital communication, you will see phrases like 'stay tuned' for upcoming updates or 'stay woke' in political contexts. It also appears in sports, where a coach might tell a player to 'stay in the game' mentally, meaning to remain focused despite being tired. Even in legal settings, a 'stay of execution' or a 'stay of proceedings' refers to a temporary halt or suspension of a legal process. This wide range of applications—from the simple command given to a dog to the complex legal maneuvers of a high court—demonstrates why 'stay' is one of the first and most important verbs any English learner should master. It is a word that bridges the gap between physical reality and abstract concepts of time and state.

Please stay on the line while I transfer your call to the billing department.

Workplace and Productivity: Used to discuss focus, deadlines, and employment. 'Staying on task' is a common phrase for productivity.

The judge granted a stay of the order, giving the lawyers more time to prepare.

If you stay focused, you can finish the entire project by Friday afternoon.

We hope you stay with us for many years to come.

Even though to stay is a simple word, learners often make specific errors when using it. The most frequent mistake is confusing 'stay' with 'live.' In many languages, the same word might be used for both, but in English, the distinction is vital. 'Live' refers to your permanent home, where you have your belongings and pay rent or a mortgage long-term. 'Stay' refers to a temporary situation, like a hotel or a friend's couch. If you say, 'I am staying in New York,' people will ask when you are leaving. If you say, 'I live in New York,' they assume it is your home. Another common error involves the confusion between 'stay' and 'wait.' While both involve remaining in a place, 'wait' implies that you are expecting something to happen or someone to arrive. 'Stay' simply means not leaving.

Stay vs. Live: Incorrect: 'I stay in Paris for ten years.' (Unless you mean you've been in a hotel for 10 years). Correct: 'I have lived in Paris for ten years.'

I am staying at a hostel for the weekend, but I live in the countryside.

Stay vs. Wait: Incorrect: 'I will stay for the bus.' Correct: 'I will wait for the bus.' (You are staying at the bus stop, but you are waiting for the bus).

Grammatically, a common mistake is using an adverb after 'stay' when it functions as a linking verb. For example, 'Stay safely' is usually incorrect if you mean 'Remain in a safe state'; the correct form is 'Stay safe.' Adjectives follow 'stay' to describe the subject. Furthermore, the past tense 'stayed' is often misspelled as 'staid' (which is a different word meaning sedate or respectable). Learners also sometimes forget that 'stay' can be a noun. 'Enjoy your stay' uses 'stay' as a noun meaning the period of time spent in a place. Confusing these parts of speech can lead to awkward phrasing. Finally, in the context of 'staying up,' learners sometimes forget the 'up,' saying 'I stayed late' when they mean they didn't go to sleep. 'I stayed late' usually means you remained at a location (like the office) longer than usual, while 'I stayed up late' means you remained awake.

Make sure to stay calm even if the situation becomes stressful.

Adjective vs. Adverb: Incorrect: 'The weather stayed beautifully.' Correct: 'The weather stayed beautiful.' (The weather itself is beautiful; we aren't describing the 'staying' action).

We stayed at the party until the very end, which was much later than planned.

He didn't stay long enough to hear the final announcement.

It is better to stay out of the argument if you don't have all the facts.

While to stay is the most common and versatile word for remaining in a place or state, English offers several synonyms that carry different nuances and registers. Choosing the right alternative can make your speech more precise and sophisticated. The most direct synonym is 'remain,' which is often used in more formal or written contexts. While you might 'stay' at a friend's house, a news report would say 'the protesters remained in the square.' Another alternative is 'reside,' which is very formal and usually refers to living somewhere permanently, though it can be used for long-term temporary stays. For more poetic or literary contexts, 'dwell' or 'abide' might be used, though these are rare in modern conversation. If you are staying somewhere longer than you should, you might use 'linger' or 'loiter.'

Stay vs. Remain: 'Stay' is casual and common. 'Remain' is formal. You stay in bed; the evidence remains in the room. 'Remain' often suggests staying after others have left.

The students were told to remain seated until the bell rang.

Stay vs. Linger: 'Linger' implies staying somewhere longer than necessary, often because you are enjoying yourself or are reluctant to leave. 'The smell of perfume lingered in the air.'

In the context of maintaining a state, 'stay' can be replaced by 'keep' or 'continue.' Instead of 'staying calm,' you might 'keep calm.' 'Keep' often implies a more active effort to maintain the state. 'Continue' is used when the focus is on the duration of the state. In the hospitality industry, 'lodge' or 'accommodate' are formal verbs related to staying. If you are staying somewhere for a very short time, you might say you are 'stopping over' or 'passing through.' Understanding these alternatives allows you to adjust your tone. If you are writing a business email, 'remain' or 'reside' might be more appropriate. If you are talking to a friend, 'stay' is perfect. Each of these words adds a specific flavor to the basic concept of not moving or not changing, enriching your ability to express yourself clearly in any situation.

We should keep quiet so we don't wake the baby.

Stay vs. Lodge: 'Lodge' is often used when someone provides you with a place to sleep, often in exchange for money. It is more specific than 'stay'.

They decided to sojourn in the mountains for a few weeks of peace.

Please continue to be patient while we fix the technical issues.

The guests lingered over their coffee, enjoying the morning sun.

How Formal Is It?

Formell

"We request that you remain in your seats."

Neutral

"I am staying at a hotel near the airport."

Informell

"Wanna stay over tonight?"

Child friendly

"Stay close to Mommy in the big store!"

Umgangssprache

"You gotta stay woke, man."

Wusstest du?

The word 'stay' in the sense of a 'stay of execution' comes from the idea of 'stopping' the legal process, directly linking back to its root meaning of 'to stand still'.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /steɪ/

US /steɪ/

Single syllable word; the stress is on the entire word.

Reimt sich auf

day play say way may gray pray tray

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing it like 'est-ay' (common for Spanish speakers).
Making the 'ay' sound too short.
Confusing the spelling with 'stayed' and 'staid'.
Adding an extra vowel sound at the end.
Pronouncing the 's' too softly.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 1/5

Very easy to recognize in text.

Schreiben 2/5

Spelling 'stayed' is usually easy, but 'staid' can confuse.

Sprechen 1/5

Commonly used in daily speech.

Hören 1/5

Clear pronunciation in most dialects.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

go live home hotel at

Als Nächstes lernen

remain reside wait linger duration

Fortgeschritten

sojourn abide stay of execution staying power staid

Wichtige Grammatik

Linking Verbs

Stay (linking verb) + Adjective: 'She stayed quiet.'

Prepositions of Place

Stay 'at' a building vs 'in' a city.

Present Continuous for Temporary Situations

'I am staying with my brother' (temporary) vs 'I live with my brother' (permanent).

Imperative Mood

'Stay!' used as a direct command.

Phrasal Verbs

'Stay up', 'Stay out', 'Stay in' all change the meaning of the base verb.

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Beispiele nach Niveau

I stay at home on Saturdays.

I remain in my house.

Present simple for a habit.

Do you stay in a hotel?

Are you living in a hotel temporarily?

Question form with 'do'.

Stay here, please.

Don't move from this spot.

Imperative form for a command.

He stays with his friend.

He is at his friend's house.

Third person singular adds 's'.

We stay for two days.

Our visit is two days long.

Using 'for' to show duration.

The dog stays in the garden.

The dog does not leave the garden.

Subject-verb agreement.

I want to stay in London.

My wish is to remain in London.

Infinitive 'to stay' after 'want'.

She stays at the library.

She is at the library now.

Preposition 'at' for a specific place.

Stay safe during the storm.

Remain in a safe condition.

Linking verb followed by an adjective.

I stayed up late last night.

I did not go to bed until late.

Phrasal verb 'stay up' in past tense.

Are you staying for dinner?

Will you remain here to eat with us?

Present continuous for a future invitation.

He needs to stay healthy.

It is necessary for him to keep his health.

Infinitive after 'needs'.

We stayed in a small guest house.

Our temporary home was a guest house.

Past simple for a completed action.

Stay away from the fire!

Don't go near the fire.

Imperative with 'away from'.

She is staying with her aunt this week.

She is living at her aunt's house temporarily.

Present continuous for a temporary state.

How long will you stay there?

What is the duration of your visit?

Future simple question.

It's hard to stay calm in a crisis.

Maintaining a peaceful mind is difficult.

Infinitive as the subject of the sentence.

We must stay in touch after graduation.

We should continue to communicate.

Idiomatic phrase 'stay in touch'.

The hotel was full, so we stayed elsewhere.

We remained in a different place.

Using 'elsewhere' as an adverb of place.

I have stayed at this resort before.

I have experience remaining here.

Present perfect for life experience.

Stay focused on your goals.

Continue to give your attention to your goals.

Linking verb with a past participle adjective.

They stayed out of the argument.

They did not get involved.

Phrasal verb 'stay out of'.

Did you enjoy your stay in Paris?

Was your visit to Paris good?

'Stay' used as a noun.

He stayed behind to help clean up.

He remained after others left.

Phrasal verb 'stay behind'.

The government must stay the course on economic reform.

They must continue with their plan despite difficulties.

Idiomatic expression 'stay the course'.

She stayed her hand, deciding not to sign the contract.

She stopped herself from acting.

Formal/Literary use meaning 'to restrain'.

It is vital to stay one step ahead of the competition.

You must remain more advanced than others.

Idiomatic phrase for competitive advantage.

The judge granted a stay of execution.

The legal order was temporarily halted.

Legal noun usage.

He has the staying power to win the marathon.

He has the endurance to finish and win.

Compound noun 'staying power'.

The smell of smoke stayed in the room for hours.

The odor remained present.

Describing a persistent sensory experience.

Stay clear of the closing doors.

Keep a distance from the doors.

Linking verb with 'clear of'.

We stayed the night at a quaint little inn.

We spent the night there.

Transitive use with 'the night'.

The court issued a stay of proceedings pending further evidence.

The legal case was paused.

Formal legal terminology.

His words stayed with me long after the conversation ended.

I continued to think about what he said.

Metaphorical use for memory/impact.

The architect used steel stays to support the roof.

Supports or braces were used.

Technical noun usage (plural).

She managed to stay the rot in the company's finances.

She stopped the decline or corruption.

Idiomatic expression 'stay the rot'.

The traveler decided to sojourn in the valley for the winter.

The traveler stayed temporarily.

Using 'sojourn' as a high-level synonym.

He stayed neutral throughout the heated debate.

He did not take a side.

Linking verb with an abstract adjective.

The decision was stayed by a higher court.

The decision was suspended.

Passive voice in a legal context.

There is no staying the march of time.

You cannot stop time from moving forward.

Gerund 'staying' used as a noun meaning 'stopping'.

The captain's resolve stayed the panic among the crew.

His determination prevented the panic from spreading.

Transitive use meaning 'to check' or 'to halt'.

The poem explores the desire to stay the fleeting moment.

The desire to make a short moment last forever.

Literary/Poetic transitive use.

In his old age, he found comfort in the staid traditions of his youth.

He liked the steady, unchanging traditions.

Using the related adjective 'staid'.

The stay of the bridge was compromised by the high winds.

A support cable of the bridge was damaged.

Specialized engineering noun.

She has an uncanny ability to stay the tide of public opinion.

She can stop or change what everyone is thinking.

Metaphorical idiom 'stay the tide'.

The king's mercy stayed the executioner's blade.

The king stopped the execution at the last second.

Archaic/Dramatic transitive use.

We must consider the staying power of these cultural phenomena.

How long these trends will remain popular.

Compound noun in a sociological context.

The proceedings were stayed sine die.

The case was paused without a set date to return.

Legal Latin combined with 'stayed'.

Häufige Kollokationen

stay at home

stay in a hotel

stay calm

stay healthy

stay awake

stay in touch

stay up late

stay out of trouble

stay the night

stay focused

Häufige Phrasen

Stay put

Stay tuned

Stay the course

Stay away

Stay behind

Stay over

Stay out

Stay in

Stay with it

Stay on top of

Wird oft verwechselt mit

to stay vs live

'Live' is for your permanent home; 'stay' is for temporary places like hotels.

to stay vs wait

'Wait' means staying because you are expecting something; 'stay' just means not leaving.

to stay vs remain

'Remain' is more formal and often implies staying after others have gone.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"Stay one step ahead"

To maintain a lead or advantage over others.

In business, you must stay one step ahead of your rivals.

professional

"Stay the hand of"

To prevent someone from doing something, usually something harmful.

The diplomat's intervention stayed the hand of the invaders.

formal

"Stay the rot"

To stop something from getting worse or declining.

The new manager was hired to stay the rot in the sales department.

neutral

"Stay in one's lane"

To mind one's own business and not interfere with others.

You should stay in your lane and let the experts handle this.

informal

"Stay of execution"

A delay in carrying out a court order or a bad situation.

The bank gave them a stay of execution on their mortgage.

legal/metaphorical

"Stay woke"

To remain alert to social and political injustice.

The song encourages listeners to stay woke.

slang

"Stay the tide"

To stop or delay a strong trend or movement.

The government is trying to stay the tide of inflation.

formal

"Stay your ground"

To refuse to move or change your opinion when challenged.

Even when they shouted, she stayed her ground.

neutral

"Stay on the right side of"

To ensure you do not break a rule or offend someone.

Make sure you stay on the right side of the law.

neutral

"Stay-at-home"

A person who remains at home to care for children or the house.

He is a stay-at-home dad.

neutral

Leicht verwechselbar

to stay vs staid

Similar spelling and sound to 'stayed'.

'Stayed' is the past tense of stay; 'staid' is an adjective meaning serious and boring.

He stayed at a very staid and traditional hotel.

to stay vs stop

Both involve ending movement.

'Stop' is the act of ending movement; 'stay' is the state of remaining stopped.

Stop the car and stay inside.

to stay vs lay

Rhyming sound.

'Lay' means to put something down; 'stay' means to remain.

Lay the book on the table and stay here.

to stay vs stray

Similar sound.

'Stray' means to move away from the correct path; 'stay' is the opposite.

Don't stray from the path; stay where it is safe.

to stay vs stand

Related root meaning.

'Stand' is a physical posture; 'stay' is a temporal state of remaining.

He had to stand while he stayed in the waiting room.

Satzmuster

I stay at [place].

I stay at home.

Stay [preposition] [place].

Stay in the car.

Stay [adjective].

Stay warm.

Subject + stayed + [duration].

We stayed for an hour.

It is [adjective] to stay [adjective].

It is important to stay calm.

Stay out of [noun].

Stay out of the kitchen.

Stay the [noun].

Stay the course.

There is no staying [noun phrase].

There is no staying the progress of technology.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

Verben

Adjektive

Verwandt

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So verwendest du es

frequency

Extremely high; one of the top 500 words in English.

Häufige Fehler

I stay in London for 5 years. → I have lived in London for 5 years.
'Stay' is for temporary durations. For long-term residence, use 'live'.
Please stay safely. → Please stay safe.
'Stay' as a linking verb requires an adjective, not an adverb.
I will stay for the bus. → I will wait for the bus.
Use 'wait' when you are expecting something to arrive.
He staid at home. → He stayed at home.
'Staid' is an adjective; 'stayed' is the past tense of stay.
I am staying to a hotel. → I am staying at a hotel.
The correct preposition for a specific building is 'at'.

Tipps

Adjective Rule

Always use an adjective after 'stay' when describing a state. Say 'stay safe,' not 'stay safely.'

Stay vs. Live

Use 'stay' for hotels, vacations, and short visits. Use 'live' for your actual home.

Social Closings

Use 'Stay in touch' or 'Stay safe' as a friendly way to end a conversation.

Formal Tone

In academic or formal writing, consider using 'remain' instead of 'stay' for a more professional tone.

Phrasal Verbs

Listen carefully for the small words after stay (up, out, in, away) as they change the meaning significantly.

Regular Verb

Remember that 'stay' is regular. Just add -ed for the past tense: stayed.

Stay Put

Use 'stay put' when you want someone to wait in a specific spot without moving at all.

Hotel English

When checking in, you can say 'I'm staying for [number] nights' to confirm your booking.

Health Advice

Use 'stay' to give health advice, like 'stay hydrated' or 'stay active'.

Dog Commands

If you have a dog, 'Stay' is one of the most important words to teach for safety.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

STAY: S-till T-here A-ll Y-ear. (If you stay, you are still there).

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a dog sitting perfectly still after its owner says 'Stay!'. This captures the core meaning of not moving.

Word Web

Hotel Home Calm Remain Wait Duration Visit Support

Herausforderung

Try to use 'stay' in three different ways today: one for location, one for a state of mind, and one for a duration of time.

Wortherkunft

Derived from the Old French word 'ester', which means to stand or remain. This itself comes from the Latin 'stare', meaning to stand.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: To stand still or to stop moving.

Indo-European (Germanic influence via French/Latin).

Kultureller Kontext

No major sensitivities, but 'stay woke' can be politically charged depending on the audience.

The phrase 'stay safe' became a standard goodbye during the pandemic years.

The Clash's song 'Should I Stay or Should I Go?' The movie 'Stay' (2005) The command 'Stay!' in countless dog movies like 'Lassie'.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Travel

How long is your stay?
I'm staying at a hostel.
Where are you staying?
Enjoy your stay!

Health

Stay hydrated.
Stay active.
Stay in bed.
Stay healthy.

Social

Stay in touch.
Can you stay for dinner?
Don't stay away too long.
Stay for a bit.

Safety

Stay back!
Stay away from the water.
Stay safe.
Stay inside.

Work

Stay on task.
Stay focused.
Stay late to finish.
Stay on schedule.

Gesprächseinstiege

"Where do you usually stay when you travel to a new city?"

"Do you prefer to stay at home or go out on Friday nights?"

"How do you stay calm when you are feeling very stressed?"

"What is the longest time you have ever stayed in a hotel?"

"Is it easy for you to stay awake during long movies?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Describe a time you stayed somewhere very unusual or interesting.

Write about your favorite ways to stay healthy and active during the winter.

What are some goals you want to stay focused on for the next month?

Do you think it is important to stay in touch with childhood friends? Why?

Reflect on a situation where you had to stay calm despite being afraid.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Both are correct. 'Stay at home' is more common in British English and formal writing, while 'stay home' is very common in American English.

Usually, no. You should say 'I live in London.' If you say 'I stay in London,' people will think you are a visitor.

'Staying late' usually means remaining at a place (like work) past the normal time. 'Staying up late' means not going to bed until a late hour.

Yes, when it is followed by an adjective to describe a state (e.g., 'stay calm'), it functions as a linking verb.

You use it to refer to a period of time spent somewhere, like 'We enjoyed our stay at the beach house.'

It is an idiom meaning to continue with a difficult task or plan until it is finished, without giving up.

Yes, for example: 'The stain stayed on the shirt even after washing.'

It is a legal term for a temporary delay in carrying out a court's sentence.

Yes, 'stay' is a regular verb, so its past tense and past participle are both 'stayed'.

It is an informal way to tell someone to remain exactly where they are and not move.

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