Kannst du die Heizung anlassen?

Can you leave the heating on?

Breakdown of Kannst du die Heizung anlassen?

• du: you
• können: can
• die Heizung: the heating
• die: the; (feminine, accusative)
• anlassen: to leave on

Questions & Answers about Kannst du die Heizung anlassen?

What does the verb form kannst tell me, and why does it come first?

Kannst is the 2nd person singular of the modal verb können (to be able to/can). In yes/no questions, German puts the finite verb first, then the subject: Kannst du …? The main (lexical) verb appears at the end in the infinitive: … anlassen?

What exactly does anlassen mean here? Is it “turn on” or “leave on”?

Here anlassen means “to leave something on (keep it running/switched on).” So Kannst du die Heizung anlassen? is asking someone to keep the heating on, not to switch it on.

• To switch on: die Heizung anmachen/einschalten
• To switch off: die Heizung ausmachen/ausschalten
• To turn it up/down (radiator knob): die Heizung aufdrehen/zudrehen, höher/tiefer stellen

Why is it die Heizung? Which case is that?

Heizung is a feminine noun, so its nominative singular article is die. Here it’s the direct object (accusative), and feminine nouns keep die in the accusative: die Heizung.
Examples: das Licht anlassen (neuter), den Fernseher anlassen (masculine).

What does Heizung refer to—heater, radiator, or the whole system?

In everyday German, die Heizung often means the heating system (e.g., central heating) or, by extension, the heating in a room/home. If you specifically mean a radiator, you can say der Heizkörper. A portable electric heater would be der Heizlüfter or der Heizstrahler.

Why is Heizung capitalized?

All nouns are capitalized in German. So die Heizung has a capital H.

Is anlassen one word or two (an lassen)?

Both occur, but for this meaning most writers use the single-word verb anlassen (it’s listed in dictionaries with the sense “leave on”). Without a modal, you’ll also hear the construction lassen … an:

• With modal: Kannst du die Heizung anlassen?
• Without modal: Du lässt die Heizung an. / Lass die Heizung an!

How do separable-prefix verbs behave here?

Anlassen is a separable-prefix verb (an- + lassen).

• In a main clause without a modal, the prefix separates: Du lässt die Heizung an.
• With a modal, the full infinitive goes to the end and stays together: Kannst du die Heizung anlassen?

Is this phrasing polite enough? How can I soften it?

It’s a perfectly normal, friendly request in many contexts. To soften it:

• Add bitte: Kannst du bitte die Heizung anlassen?
• Add the softening particle mal: Kannst du mal die Heizung anlassen?
• Use the conditional for more politeness: Könntest du die Heizung anlassen?
• Formal: Könnten Sie bitte die Heizung anlassen?

How would I address someone formally or more than one person?

• Formal singular/plural: Können Sie die Heizung anlassen? / Könnten Sie …?
• Informal plural: Könnt ihr die Heizung anlassen?
  Remember: Sie (formal) is capitalized.

What’s the imperative version?

• Informal singular: Lass die Heizung an!
• Informal plural: Lasst die Heizung an!
• Formal: Lassen Sie die Heizung an!
  Add bitte to make it friendlier: Lass bitte …, Lassen Sie bitte …

How do I negate it?

• As a question/request: Kannst du die Heizung nicht anlassen? (Can’t you leave the heating on?)
• As an imperative (don’t leave it on): Lass die Heizung nicht an.

What are the past and future forms?

• Present perfect (have left on): Ich habe die Heizung angelassen.
• Simple past (more written/rare here): Ich ließ die Heizung an.
• Future (not usually needed; present often suffices): Ich werde die Heizung anlassen. / Wirst du die Heizung anlassen?

Can anlassen also mean “to start an engine”? Is that confusing?

Yes, den Motor anlassen = “to start the engine.” Context disambiguates: with die Heizung, speakers understand “leave the heating on.” If you meant “switch the heating on,” you’d say anmachen/einschalten instead.

Where can I put bitte in this sentence?

Common and natural options include:

• Kannst du bitte die Heizung anlassen?
• Kannst du die Heizung bitte anlassen?
• Bitte, kannst du die Heizung anlassen? (a bit more emphatic)

What are good pronoun replacements?

Since Heizung is feminine, use sie as the pronoun:

• Kannst du sie anlassen? (context makes it clear that sie = the heating)
  In the perfect: Ich habe sie angelassen.

Any quick pronunciation tips?

• Kannst: final -st is pronounced; think “kanst.”
• Heizung: ei = “eye,” z = “ts,” final -ung like “oong” (with a soft g). Roughly: “HIGH-ts-oong.”
• anlassen: stress on the first syllable: “AN-lassen.”