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A2 verb 11 min read

schieben

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips schieben in 30 Seconds

Explanation schieben in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'schieben' is introduced as a basic physical action. Learners focus on its literal meaning: moving an object away from oneself or along the floor. You will see it in contexts like 'den Einkaufswagen schieben' (pushing the shopping cart) or 'das Fahrrad schieben' (pushing the bike). The grammar is kept simple, focusing on the present tense 'ich schiebe'. It is important to distinguish it from 'ziehen' (to pull), which is its direct opposite. At this stage, the focus is on the concrete, visible world.

At the A2 level, we begin to see 'schieben' used with directional prepositions like 'in', 'auf', or 'unter'. Learners are expected to use the accusative case correctly for the destination (e.g., 'Ich schiebe den Stuhl in die Küche'). We also introduce the most common separable prefix version: 'aufschieben' (to postpone). A2 learners should understand that 'schieben' is a strong verb and should start to recognize its past forms 'schob' and 'geschoben', particularly in the Perfekt tense with 'haben'.

By B1, the use of 'schieben' becomes more idiomatic and abstract. Learners should be familiar with phrases like 'die Schuld auf jemanden schieben' (to blame someone). The focus shifts toward more complex sentence structures and the use of the Präteritum (simple past) in storytelling. B1 learners also encounter the verb in professional contexts, such as 'einen Termin verschieben' (to reschedule an appointment). The nuance between 'schieben' and related verbs like 'stoßen' (shove) or 'drücken' (press) becomes more important.

At the B2 level, 'schieben' is used in a variety of figurative expressions and more formal contexts. Learners should understand words like 'Abschiebung' (deportation) and the political/social weight they carry. They should also be comfortable with colloquialisms like 'eine ruhige Kugel schieben' (to have an easy time). At this stage, the learner should be able to use 'schieben' and its derivatives (einschieben, nachschieben, beiseiteschieben) precisely to describe complex actions or social maneuvers.

C1 learners explore the literary and highly nuanced uses of 'schieben'. This includes using the verb to describe slowly moving clouds, the shifting of tectonic plates, or the subtle manipulation of a conversation. The focus is on stylistic variety. A C1 speaker might use 'schieben' to describe a feeling that 'creeps' or 'slides' into one's mind. They should also be able to distinguish between technical terms like 'Schieberegister' (shift register in computing) and general usage.

At the C2 level, the mastery of 'schieben' is complete, including its use in archaic texts, complex legal definitions (e.g., regarding the displacement of property), and high-level philosophical metaphors. A C2 learner understands the etymological roots and can use the verb to create vivid, poetic imagery. They can effortlessly switch between the most informal slang ('Kohldampf schieben') and the most formal academic or bureaucratic language where 'schieben' might appear in compound nouns or specific legal contexts.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

schieben in 30 Seconds

Schieben is a strong verb meaning to push or slide objects horizontally across a surface, like a cart or furniture.
It is frequently used figuratively to mean postponing events (aufschieben) or shifting blame (die Schuld schieben).
Grammatically, it requires the auxiliary 'haben' in the Perfekt tense and follows the vowel pattern schieben-schob-geschoben.
It differs from 'drücken' (to press a button) and 'stoßen' (to give a sudden shove or bump).

The German verb schieben is a fundamental word that every learner must master, primarily because it describes a physical action we perform dozens of times a day. At its core, schieben means to push or slide something along a surface. Unlike the verb drücken, which often implies applying pressure to a stationary object (like a button or a doorbell) or pushing something away from you in a general sense, schieben specifically suggests movement across a plane. When you schieben something, you are usually maintaining contact with it as it moves from point A to point B. This nuance is crucial for sounding natural in German.

Physical Displacement: This is the most literal use. You use it for shopping carts (Einkaufswagen), bicycles (Fahrräder) when you aren't riding them, and furniture (Möbel). If the object stays on the ground while moving, you are likely using schieben.
Abstract Postponement: In a metaphorical sense, Germans use the prefix-version aufschieben to talk about procrastination. You are 'pushing' a task further down the timeline. Even without the prefix, in certain contexts, schieben can imply moving a responsibility or a deadline.
Transfer of Blame: A very common idiomatic use is 'die Schuld auf jemanden schieben' (to shift the blame onto someone). Here, the blame is treated as a physical object being slid toward another person to get it away from oneself.

Ich muss mein Fahrrad den Hügel hinauf schieben, weil die Kette gerissen ist.

Translation: I have to push my bike up the hill because the chain broke.

The verb is 'strong' (unregelmäßig), meaning its stem changes in the past tense. The forms are schieben - schob - geschoben. This vowel shift from 'ie' to 'o' is a classic pattern in Germanic languages, similar to the English 'drive - drove'. Understanding this pattern helps you recognize the word even when it appears in historical narratives or formal reports. In everyday life, you will encounter this word most frequently at the supermarket. You don't 'carry' a cart, you schieben it. Similarly, if you are at a crowded event, people might drängeln und schieben (jostle and push) to get a better view.

Er schob den Teller beiseite, als er satt war.

Translation: He pushed the plate aside when he was full.

Furthermore, schieben plays a significant role in the German labor market and social discussions. For instance, the term Abschiebung (deportation) literally means 'pushing away'. In a more casual work environment, someone might say they are eine ruhige Kugel schieben, which is a wonderful idiom meaning to have an easy time at work or to slack off, originating from the world of bowling or bowling-like games where one 'pushes' the ball calmly.

Mechanical Contexts: In engineering, parts that slide (like a drawer or a piston) often involve the root schieb-. A Schublade (drawer) is literally a 'push-box'.

Using schieben correctly requires an understanding of both its grammatical structure and the directional adverbs that typically accompany it. Because schieben is a verb of motion, it almost always takes a direct object in the accusative case (Wen oder was schiebe ich?) and often indicates a direction (Wohin schiebe ich es?). This 'whither' aspect is vital for sentence construction.

The Accusative Object: You must identify what is being pushed. 'Ich schiebe den Wagen' (masculine accusative). 'Ich schiebe das Kind im Kinderwagen' (neuter accusative). The object receives the action of the sliding motion.
Directional Prepositions: Common partners include in, auf, unter, and vor. Because you are moving the object into a new position, these two-way prepositions always trigger the accusative case. 'Ich schiebe den Stuhl unter den Tisch' (I push the chair under the table).

Wir schieben den Schrank in die Ecke.

Translation: We are pushing the cupboard into the corner.

When using the past tense in spoken German (Perfekt), remember to use the auxiliary verb haben. While some verbs of movement like gehen or fahren use sein, schieben uses haben because it focuses on the action performed on an object. 'Ich habe den Kinderwagen geschoben.' However, if the subject themselves is sliding (though this is rare for schieben, usually rutschen is used), the rules might differ, but for the standard 'pushing' meaning, always stick with haben.

In more complex sentences, you might encounter separable prefix versions. Verschieben is used for moving appointments. 'Wir müssen den Termin auf Freitag verschieben.' Aufschieben is for delaying tasks. 'Schiebe deine Hausaufgaben nicht immer auf!' These variations follow the same conjugation patterns as the base verb but change the meaning significantly. In a professional context, you might 'etwas beiseite schieben' (push something aside) to focus on a more urgent matter.

Modal Verbs with Schieben: When combined with 'können', 'müssen', or 'sollen', schieben moves to the end of the sentence. 'Kannst du bitte das Auto aus der Garage schieben?' (Can you please push the car out of the garage?)

Man darf die Verantwortung nicht einfach auf andere schieben.

Translation: You mustn't simply shift the responsibility onto others.

The word schieben is ubiquitous in German daily life, from the mundane chores of a household to the high-pressure environment of a corporate office. If you find yourself in a German supermarket like Aldi or Lidl, you will hear it constantly. Parents will tell their children: 'Hör auf, den Einkaufswagen so schnell zu schieben!' (Stop pushing the shopping cart so fast!). In this context, it is a word of utility and physical action.

„Komm, wir schieben das Sofa rüber zum Fenster.“

Translation: 'Come on, let's slide the sofa over to the window.'

In the realm of public transport and urban mobility, schieben is equally common. If a train is overcrowded, the conductor might ask people to 'nachrücken' or 'weiter zu schieben' to make room for others entering. At the train station, you might see signs that say 'Fahrräder bitte schieben' (Please push your bicycles), indicating that riding is prohibited on the platform. This is a very common sight in German-speaking cities where cycling is a major mode of transport.

Workplace and Office: In meetings, you will hear the related verb verschieben. 'Können wir das Meeting auf nächste Woche verschieben?' (Can we postpone the meeting to next week?). It is the standard term for rescheduling. You might also hear 'Dienst schieben' (to pull a shift), which is a slightly informal way of saying one is working a specific shift, often implying it's a bit of a grind.

Socially, the word takes on a more psychological tone. When friends are arguing about whose fault something was, you might hear: 'Schieb die Schuld nicht auf mich!' (Don't push the blame on me!). This usage is very common in movies and TV dramas. It portrays blame as a burden that people try to physically move away from themselves. In news broadcasts, you will hear about 'Abschiebungen' (deportations), which is a heavy, politically charged noun derived from the verb, describing the forced removal of individuals from the country.

„Er schiebt seit drei Stunden Panik wegen der Prüfung.“

Translation: 'He has been pushing panic (freaking out) for three hours because of the exam.'

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make with schieben is confusing it with the English word 'push' in all contexts. In English, 'push' covers both the application of pressure (pushing a button) and the displacement of an object (pushing a cart). In German, these are strictly separated. If you say 'Ich schiebe den Knopf', a German speaker might imagine you trying to slide the button across the wall rather than pressing it. For buttons, always use drücken.

Schieben vs. Drücken: Use drücken for: Buttons, doorbells, weightlifting (bench press), hugging (jemanden drücken), and feeling pressure. Use schieben for: Carts, bikes, furniture, sliding doors, and windows.
Conjugation Confusion: Because it is a strong verb, many learners try to conjugate it regularly: 'er schiebte' (wrong) instead of 'er schob' (correct). Similarly, the past participle is 'geschoben', not 'geschiebt'.

Falsch: Ich drücke das Fahrrad nach Hause.
Richtig: Ich schiebe das Fahrrad nach Hause.

Explanation: You slide the bike along the ground; you don't just apply pressure to it.

Another mistake involves the prepositional usage. When you push something *to* a place, learners often forget that the movement requires the accusative case. If you say 'Ich schiebe den Stuhl unter dem Tisch' (dative), you are saying you are pushing the chair while you yourself are already located under the table. To say you are moving the chair to that location, you must say 'unter den Tisch' (accusative).

Finally, be careful with the prefix verschieben. While it means 'to postpone', it can also mean 'to displace' or 'to shift' physically. However, in modern German, if you want to say you moved a physical object slightly, verrücken is often a better choice. Verschieben is heavily associated with dates and times. Using the wrong prefix can change the tone from 'I moved the chair' to 'I postponed the chair', which makes no sense.

Phonetic Pitfall: Do not confuse the pronunciation with 'sieben' (seven). The 'sch' sound requires a much stronger air flow and rounded lips compared to the soft 's' in 'sieben'.

German is a language of precision, and there are several words that are close in meaning to schieben but carry different nuances. Knowing when to use stoßen, drücken, or gleiten will elevate your German from 'functional' to 'fluent'.

Stoßen (to shove/bump): Stoßen implies a more sudden, forceful, or jerky movement than schieben. If schieben is a smooth slide, stoßen is a sharp jab. You 'stoßen' someone accidentally in a crowd.
Drücken (to press/push): As discussed, this is about pressure. You 'drücken' a button or 'drücken' someone's hand. It does not necessarily imply that the object moves across a surface.
Rollen (to roll): If the object has wheels (like a ball or a barrel), you might use rollen. However, for a shopping cart, schieben is still more common because you are the active force guiding it.

Statt den Schrank zu schieben, sollten wir ihn lieber tragen, um den Boden zu schonen.

Translation: Instead of sliding the cupboard, we should rather carry it to protect the floor.

In formal or technical writing, you might encounter befördern (to convey/transport) or verlagern (to shift/relocate). These are more abstract. If a company moves its headquarters, they verlagern their base; they don't 'schieben' it. If you are talking about the physical mechanism of a sliding door, you would use the noun Schiebemechanismus. The verb gleiten (to glide) is used when the motion is particularly smooth and effortless, like a skater on ice.

Lastly, consider the verb rücken. This is often used for small, precise movements. If you are sitting at a table and want someone to move over a bit, you say 'Rück mal ein Stück' (Move over a bit). While schieben could be used, rücken sounds more natural for adjusting one's seating position. In the context of furniture, verrücken is used when you change the layout of a room slightly.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The word 'Schublade' (drawer) literally means 'push-box'. It is one of the most common household items named after this verb.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ˈʃiːbn̩/

US /ˈʃibən/

The stress is on the first syllable: SCHIE-ben.

Rhymes With

lieben sieben blieben trieben hieben rieben stieben verblieben

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'sch' as 's' (like 'sieben').
Making the 'ie' too short (like 'shibben').
Confusing it with 'schießen' (to shoot).
Over-enunciating the 'e' in '-en'.
Failing to voice the 'b' correctly.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize in text, but past forms (schob/geschoben) require knowledge of strong verbs.

Writing 3/5

Requires correct case usage (accusative) and knowledge of separable prefixes.

Speaking 2/5

Simple pronunciation, but don't confuse it with 'sieben' or 'schießen'.

Listening 2/5

Clear 'sch' sound makes it easy to distinguish in conversation.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

drücken ziehen bewegen der Tisch das Fahrrad

Learn Next

aufschieben verschieben die Schuld der Termin verrücken

Advanced

abschieben einschieben unterschieben die Schubkraft der Aufschub

Grammar to Know

Strong Verb Conjugation

schieben (Präsens) -> schob (Präteritum) -> geschoben (Partizip II)

Two-Way Prepositions (Wechselpräpositionen)

Ich schiebe den Stuhl *in die* Ecke (Akkusativ, because it is movement to a destination).

Separable Prefixes

Ich *schiebe* die Arbeit *auf*. (The prefix 'auf' goes to the end in a main clause).

Auxiliary Verb in Perfekt

Ich *habe* den Wagen geschoben. (Always uses 'haben' for transitive pushing).

Reflexive Use

Die Menge *schiebt sich* durch das Tor. (Using 'sich' to describe a collective movement).

Examples by Level

Ich schiebe den Kinderwagen.

I am pushing the stroller.

Present tense, accusative object 'den Kinderwagen'.

Kannst du den Tisch schieben?

Can you push the table?

Modal verb 'können' with infinitive at the end.

Wir schieben das Fahrrad.

We are pushing the bicycle.

First person plural 'wir'.

Er schiebt den Einkaufswagen.

He is pushing the shopping cart.

Third person singular 'er schiebt'.

Bitte schieb die Tür zu.

Please push the door shut.

Imperative singular 'schieb'.

Sie schieben die Kiste.

They are pushing the box.

Third person plural 'sie'.

Ich schiebe den Stuhl.

I am pushing the chair.

Simple SVO structure.

Schiebst du das Auto?

Are you pushing the car?

Question form, subject-verb inversion.

Ich habe den Schrank in die Ecke geschoben.

I pushed the cupboard into the corner.

Perfekt tense with 'haben' and 'geschoben'.

Wir müssen den Termin verschieben.

We have to postpone the appointment.

Prefix verb 'verschieben'.

Schieb den Teller bitte beiseite.

Please push the plate aside.

Imperative with directional adverb 'beiseite'.

Er schob sein Fahrrad den Berg hoch.

He pushed his bike up the mountain.

Präteritum (simple past) 'schob'.

Können wir das Sofa unter das Fenster schieben?

Can we push the sofa under the window?

Accusative destination 'unter das Fenster'.

Sie hat den Vorhang zur Seite geschoben.

She pushed the curtain to the side.

Perfekt tense with 'geschoben'.

Schieb das Buch nicht vom Tisch!

Don't push the book off the table!

Negation with 'nicht' and 'vom' (von dem).

Wir schieben die Hausaufgaben auf morgen.

We are putting off the homework until tomorrow.

Use of 'aufschieben' (separable).

Er versucht, die Schuld auf seine Kollegen zu schieben.

He is trying to shift the blame onto his colleagues.

Infinitive construction with 'zu schieben'.

Die Wolken schieben sich langsam vor die Sonne.

The clouds are slowly sliding in front of the sun.

Reflexive use 'sich schieben'.

Wir schieben eine Extraschicht, um fertig zu werden.

We are pulling an extra shift to get finished.

Idiomatic use 'eine Schicht schieben'.

Der Vorhang schob sich langsam auf.

The curtain slowly slid open.

Präteritum of the reflexive 'sich aufschieben'.

Du solltest das Problem nicht vor dir her schieben.

You shouldn't keep pushing the problem ahead of you (procrastinating).

Idiomatic 'vor sich her schieben'.

Sie schob den Riegel vor die Tür.

She slid the bolt across the door.

Literal use with 'Riegel'.

Der Polizist schob die Menschenmenge zurück.

The policeman pushed the crowd back.

Präteritum with 'zurück' (back).

Ich schiebe heute Abend eine Pizza in den Ofen.

I'm sliding a pizza into the oven tonight.

Casual usage for putting food in the oven.

Er schiebt eine ruhige Kugel im neuen Job.

He is taking it easy in his new job.

Idiom: 'eine ruhige Kugel schieben'.

Der Angeklagte schob die Tat auf einen Unbekannten.

The defendant blamed the act on an unknown person.

Formal/Legal context for 'schieben'.

Man darf die Entscheidung nicht auf die lange Bank schieben.

One must not put off the decision for too long.

Idiom: 'auf die lange Bank schieben'.

Die Regierung hat die Reform aufgeschoben.

The government has postponed the reform.

Political context for 'aufschieben'.

Er schiebt Kohldampf, weil er das Mittagessen verpasst hat.

He is starving because he missed lunch.

Slang: 'Kohldampf schieben'.

Die Tektonik schiebt die Kontinentalplatten gegeneinander.

Tectonics push the continental plates against each other.

Scientific/Technical usage.

Ich schiebe noch eine kurze Bemerkung ein.

I'll just insert a short remark.

Prefix verb 'einschieben' (to insert).

Er schob den Gedanken an den Unfall beiseite.

He pushed the thought of the accident aside.

Metaphorical use of 'beiseite schieben'.

Die Verantwortung wurde von einer Instanz zur nächsten geschoben.

Responsibility was shifted from one authority to the next.

Passive voice 'wurde geschoben'.

Ein eisiger Wind schob die Nebelschwaden durch das Tal.

An icy wind pushed the patches of fog through the valley.

Literary/Poetic description.

Er schob die Brille auf der Nase hoch.

He pushed his glasses up on his nose.

Precise physical movement.

Die Krise schob viele Menschen in die Armut.

The crisis pushed many people into poverty.

Figurative displacement.

Er schob sein ganzes Kapital in riskante Anlagen.

He shifted all his capital into risky investments.

Financial context.

Die Verhandlungen wurden durch neue Forderungen hinausgeschoben.

The negotiations were delayed by new demands.

Prefix 'hinausschieben' in passive voice.

Sie schob ihm diskret einen Zettel zu.

She discreetly slid a note to him.

Prefix 'zuschieben' (to slide toward).

Der Autor schiebt dem Leser die Lösung erst spät unter.

The author only subtly suggests the solution to the reader late on.

Idiomatic 'unterschieben' (to insinuate/plant).

Es ist unredlich, die Last der Geschichte auf die Jugend zu schieben.

It is dishonest to shift the burden of history onto the youth.

High-level ethical/philosophical discussion.

Der Riegel der Vernunft wurde vor das triebhafte Handeln geschoben.

The bolt of reason was slid before impulsive action.

Metaphorical use in psychology/philosophy.

Die bürokratischen Mühlen schieben die Akten von Schreibtisch zu Schreibtisch.

The bureaucratic mills shift the files from desk to desk.

Personification and metaphor.

Er schob seine Bedenken in den hintersten Winkel seines Bewusstseins.

He pushed his concerns into the furthest corner of his consciousness.

Abstract psychological description.

Die schiere Masse des Publikums schob die Absperrungen beiseite.

The sheer mass of the audience pushed the barriers aside.

Describing physical force with 'schiere Masse'.

In der Quantenphysik lassen sich Teilchen nicht einfach so hin und her schieben.

In quantum physics, particles cannot simply be pushed back and forth.

Scientific context, passive reflexive 'lassen sich'.

Die Zeit schiebt uns unaufhaltsam dem Ende entgegen.

Time pushes us inexorably toward the end.

Existential metaphor.

Er schob dem Konkurrenten gefälschte Beweise unter.

He planted forged evidence on his competitor.

Legal/Criminal context for 'unterschieben'.

Common Collocations

Einkaufswagen schieben

Fahrrad schieben

Schuld schieben

Termin verschieben

Panik schieben

eine Schicht schieben

Riegel vorschieben

Kohldampf schieben

beiseite schieben

in den Ofen schieben

Common Phrases

auf die lange Bank schieben

— To put something off for a very long time. It refers to a slow legal process.

Du solltest den Arztbesuch nicht auf die lange Bank schieben.

eine ruhige Kugel schieben

— To have an easy job or to work very little. It comes from bowling.

In seinem neuen Büro schiebt er eine ruhige Kugel.

die Schuld von sich schieben

— To deny responsibility and blame others. It describes avoiding consequences.

Er versucht immer, die Schuld von sich zu schieben.

Kohldampf schieben

— To be very hungry. 'Kohldampf' is old slang for hunger.

Nach dem Sport schiebe ich immer Kohldampf.

Panik schieben

— To freak out or be very anxious. It is common among students.

Schieb keine Panik, die Prüfung ist erst morgen.

Dienst schieben

— To work a shift, usually implying it is boring or long. Used by police or nurses.

Mein Bruder muss am Wochenende Dienst schieben.

einen Riegel vorschieben

— To put a stop to something. Literally to slide a bolt in front of a door.

Die Polizei will dem Drogenhandel einen Riegel vorschieben.

etwas vor sich her schieben

— To procrastinate on a specific task. You carry the task ahead of you like a burden.

Ich schiebe die Steuererklärung schon seit Wochen vor mir her.

Wache schieben

— To stand guard or keep watch. Common in military or security contexts.

Die Soldaten mussten die ganze Nacht Wache schieben.

nach hinten schieben

— To move something to a later time or a lower priority. Used in project management.

Wir müssen dieses Feature nach hinten schieben.

Often Confused With

schieben vs drücken

English 'push' covers both. In German, 'drücken' is for buttons/pressure, 'schieben' is for sliding movement.

schieben vs stoßen

Stoßen is a sudden, often violent push or bump. Schieben is a continuous, guided movement.

schieben vs sieben

Phonetically similar, but 'sieben' means 'seven' or 'to sift'.

Idioms & Expressions

"eine ruhige Kugel schieben"

— To take it easy at work.

Seit er befördert wurde, schiebt er eine ruhige Kugel.

informal

"Kohldampf schieben"

— To be starving.

Ich habe den ganzen Tag nichts gegessen und schiebe jetzt Kohldampf.

slang

"die Schuld auf jemanden schieben"

— To blame someone else.

Es ist einfach, die Schuld auf die Technik zu schieben.

neutral

"etwas auf die lange Bank schieben"

— To procrastinate indefinitely.

Dieses Projekt darfst du nicht auf die lange Bank schieben.

neutral

"Panik schieben"

— To panic.

Schieb keine Panik, wir haben noch Zeit.

informal

"einen Riegel vorschieben"

— To prevent or stop something.

Der Gesetzgeber muss diesem Missbrauch einen Riegel vorschieben.

formal

"Optik schieben"

— To hallucinate (often drug-related) or see things weirdly.

Er schiebt voll die Optik.

slang

"Stress schieben"

— To be stressed or to cause stress.

Warum schiebst du jetzt so einen Stress?

informal

"Wache schieben"

— To stand guard.

Er musste am Tor Wache schieben.

neutral

"Filme schieben"

— To imagine things that aren't true or to overthink.

Schieb keine Filme, sie hat dich sicher nicht ignoriert.

slang

Easily Confused

schieben vs schießen

Similar spelling and both are strong verbs.

Schießen means to shoot. Its past forms are schoss/geschossen, while schieben is schob/geschoben.

Er schießt den Ball (He shoots the ball) vs. Er schiebt den Ball (He pushes the ball).

schieben vs scheiden

Starts with 'sch' and has 'ei/ie' sounds.

Scheiden means to separate or divorce. It is a completely different semantic field.

Sie lassen sich scheiden.

schieben vs rücken

Both involve moving objects.

Rücken is for small adjustments. Schieben is for general displacement over a surface.

Rück den Stuhl ein bisschen nach links.

schieben vs gleiten

Both involve sliding.

Gleiten is intransitive and describes the quality of motion (smooth). Schieben is transitive and describes the act of moving an object.

Der Schlitten gleitet über den Schnee.

schieben vs schleppen

Both involve moving heavy things.

Schleppen means to drag or lug something with great effort, often while carrying it partially.

Ich muss die schweren Taschen nach Hause schleppen.

Sentence Patterns

Ich schiebe [Objekt].

Ich schiebe den Wagen.

Ich habe [Objekt] [Richtung] geschoben.

Ich habe den Tisch in die Küche geschoben.

Kannst du [Objekt] [Richtung] schieben?

Kannst du den Stuhl zur Seite schieben?

Schieb [Abstraktum] nicht auf [Person].

Schieb die Schuld nicht auf mich.

[Subjekt] schiebt [Aufgabe] vor sich her.

Er schiebt die Arbeit vor sich her.

Es wurde ein Riegel vorgeschoben.

Dem Betrug wurde ein Riegel vorgeschoben.

[Subjekt] schiebt sich [Richtung].

Der Nebel schiebt sich durch das Tal.

Man schob ihm [Objekt] unter.

Man schob ihm die Tat unter.

Word Family

Nouns

der Schub (the push/thrust)

die Schublade (the drawer)

die Abschiebung (deportation)

die Verschiebung (postponement)

der Schieber (the slider/slider control)

das Schiebedach (sunroof)

Verbs

aufschieben (to postpone)

verschieben (to reschedule/shift)

abschieben (to deport/push away)

einschieben (to insert)

nachschieben (to push more/follow up)

zuschieben (to slide toward)

Adjectives

aufschiebbar (postponable)

unaufschiebbar (urgent/cannot be postponed)

geschoben (pushed - participle used as adj)

der Schubkarren (wheelbarrow)

die Schiebetür (sliding door)

der Schiebewiderstand (sliding resistor)

die Schubkraft (thrust)

der Aufschub (delay)

How to Use It

frequency

Very frequent in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

Common Mistakes

Ich schiebe den Knopf. → Ich drücke den Knopf.
You press (drücken) buttons; you don't slide them across a surface.
Er schiebte den Tisch. → Er schob den Tisch.
Schieben is a strong verb and changes its stem in the past tense.
Ich habe das Fahrrad geschiebt. → Ich habe das Fahrrad geschoben.
The past participle of schieben is geschoben, not geschiebt.
Ich schiebe den Stuhl unter dem Tisch. → Ich schiebe den Stuhl unter den Tisch.
Since you are moving the chair to a new location, you must use the accusative case.
Wir müssen den Termin aufschieben. → Wir müssen den Termin verschieben.
'Verschieben' is the standard word for rescheduling an appointment. 'Aufschieben' implies procrastination.

Tips

Strong Verb Pattern

Remember the pattern 'ie - o - o'. This applies to other verbs too, like 'biegen - bog - gebogen'. Grouping them helps memory.

The Drawer Connection

Always associate 'schieben' with 'Schublade' (drawer). Since you push and pull a drawer, the word 'Schub' (push) is right there in the name.

Supermarket Practice

The next time you are in a supermarket, say to yourself: 'Ich schiebe den Einkaufswagen.' It is the perfect real-world practice.

Blame Shifting

Use 'Schuld schieben' to describe office politics. It's a very common and descriptive way to talk about responsibility.

Prefix Power

Learn 'auf-', 'ver-', and 'ab-' prefixes with 'schieben'. They are some of the most useful variations in the German language.

Schieben vs. Drücken

If the object moves across the floor, use 'schieben'. If you are just pressing it, use 'drücken'. This is the #1 mistake for English speakers.

Long IE

Make sure to hold the 'ie' sound. It should be a long /i:/ sound. If it's too short, it sounds like 'schibben', which isn't a word.

Accusative Destination

Whenever you push something *to* a place, the prepositional phrase that follows must be in the accusative case.

Panik Schieben

Use 'Panik schieben' when talking to friends about exams or stressful events. It makes you sound much more native.

The Slider

Think of a 'Schieberegler' (slider) on a mixing board or a phone screen. You are 'schieben'-ing that control.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'SHEEP' (Schie-) that you have to 'PUSH' into a 'PEN' (-ben). Schieben = Sheep-Pushing.

Visual Association

Imagine a giant shopping cart (Einkaufswagen) being slid across an ice rink. The sound of the metal on ice and the effort of pushing (schieben) help anchor the word.

Word Web

Schublade Fahrrad Schuld Termin Panik Kinderwagen Einkaufswagen Riegel

Challenge

Try to use 'schieben' in three different ways today: once for a physical object, once for a date/time (verschieben), and once for a task you are procrastinating (aufschieben).

Word Origin

From Middle High German 'schieben', from Old High German 'scioban'. It has roots in the Proto-Germanic '*skeubaną'. It is cognate with the English word 'shove'.

Original meaning: To push, shove, or set in motion.

Germanic

Cultural Context

Be careful when using 'abschieben' in political contexts, as it refers to the deportation of refugees and migrants.

English speakers often use 'push' for both pressing and sliding. German requires the distinction between 'drücken' and 'schieben'.

The song 'Schieb den Wal zurück ins Meer' (Push the whale back into the sea). The common phrase 'Aufgeschoben ist nicht aufgehoben' (Postponed is not cancelled). Bureaucratic forms regarding 'Terminverschiebung'.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Supermarket

Den Einkaufswagen schieben.
Darf ich kurz vorbeischieben?
Schieb den Wagen bitte dort rüber.
Nicht so schnell schieben!

Office/Work

Einen Termin verschieben.
Die Schuld auf andere schieben.
Eine Extraschicht schieben.
Die Entscheidung aufschieben.

Home/Moving

Möbel schieben.
Den Stuhl unter den Tisch schieben.
Die Schublade zuschieben.
Den Vorhang beiseite schieben.

Emotions/Slang

Panik schieben.
Stress schieben.
Kohldampf schieben.
Filme schieben.

Traffic/Transport

Das Fahrrad schieben.
Das Auto von der Straße schieben.
Den Kinderwagen schieben.
Ein Motorrad schieben.

Conversation Starters

"Musstest du schon mal dein Auto schieben, weil es kaputt war?"

"Schiebst du deine Hausaufgaben oft bis zur letzten Minute auf?"

"Wie oft musstest du diesen Monat schon einen Termin verschieben?"

"Wer schiebt in deiner Familie meistens den Einkaufswagen?"

"Hast du schon mal eine Nachtschicht in einem Job schieben müssen?"

Journal Prompts

Schreibe über eine Situation, in der du die Schuld auf jemanden anderen geschoben hast. Wie hast du dich gefühlt?

Welche Aufgaben schiebst du am häufigsten auf? Warum tust du das?

Beschreibe den Prozess, wie du ein Zimmer umgestaltest und Möbel schiebst.

Denkst du, dass Menschen heute mehr Stress schieben als früher? Begründe deine Meinung.

Was war das Schwerste, das du jemals physisch schieben musstest?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, when used transitively (pushing an object), it always uses 'haben'. For example: 'Ich habe den Schrank geschoben.' Even in reflexive uses like 'Die Menge hat sich geschoben', 'haben' is standard.

Schieben is the basic act of pushing. Aufschieben is a specific prefix verb meaning to postpone or delay a task or appointment. Example: 'Ich schiebe die Hausaufgaben auf.'

No, you should use 'drücken' for a doorbell. 'Schieben' would imply you are trying to slide the doorbell along the wall.

It is an idiom meaning to have an easy time at work or to not work very hard. It's a common way to describe a relaxed job.

No, it is a strong (irregular) verb. Its forms are schieben, schob, geschoben. You must memorize the vowel change from 'ie' to 'o'.

You can say 'die Tür aufschieben' if it is a sliding door, or 'die Tür aufdrücken' if you are pushing a regular hinged door.

Use 'verschieben' primarily for appointments, dates, and times. It can also mean to shift something physically, but 'verschieben' is the standard for rescheduling.

No, it is very informal slang. You should use it with friends, but not in a formal dinner setting or with your boss.

The most common nouns are 'der Schub' (the push/thrust) and 'die Verschiebung' (the postponement/shift).

Yes, you can 'jemanden schieben' (push someone in a wheelchair or on a swing), or 'sich schieben' (a crowd moving through a narrow space).