Wir richten den Lenker aus.

We align the handlebar.

Breakdown of Wir richten den Lenker aus.

• wir: we
• der Lenker: the bicycle handlebar
• ausrichten: to align

Questions & Answers about Wir richten den Lenker aus.

What does ausrichten mean in this sentence?

Here ausrichten means to align, to straighten, or to adjust so that something is properly lined up.

So Wir richten den Lenker aus means something like We align the handlebar or We are straightening the handlebars, depending on context.

Why is aus separated from richten and placed at the end?

Because ausrichten is a separable verb.

In a normal main clause, German separable verbs split:

• the conjugated part goes in the usual verb position
• the prefix goes to the end

So:

• infinitive: ausrichten
• main clause: Wir richten den Lenker aus.

This is very common in German:

• Ich stehe auf. = I get up
• Sie ruft an. = She calls
• Wir richten den Lenker aus.

Why is the sentence Wir richten den Lenker aus and not Wir ausrichten den Lenker?