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German Phrase

Ich hab' alles versucht, was ich kann.

/ɪç hap ˈaləs fɛɐ̯ˈzuːxt vas ɪç kan/
Meaning"I have tried everything that I can."
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Meaning

This phrase expresses a sense of completion or exhaustion of options. It implies that the speaker has exerted all possible effort to achieve a goal or solve a problem. The use of 'hab' is a common colloquial shortening of 'habe'.

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When to use

Use this when you want to explain that you've reached your limit in trying to help or fix something. It's common in situations involving frustration, resignation, or when giving a final report on a task.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Ichhab'allesversucht,wasichkann.

1

Hab' (Habe)

The apostrophe indicates the omission of 'e' in 'habe', which is very common in spoken German.

2

Perfekt Tense

The phrase uses the present perfect ('habe versucht') to describe a completed action.

3

Relative Clause with 'was'

When referring back to 'alles', 'nichts', or 'etwas', the relative pronoun 'was' is used instead of 'das'.

🗨In Conversation

A

Kannst du den Computer reparieren?

Can you fix the computer?

Ich hab' alles versucht, was ich kann. Er ist kaputt.

I've tried everything I can. It is broken.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Ich habe alles versuche, was ich kann.

    Use the past participle 'versucht' with the auxiliary verb 'habe'.

  • Ich habe alles versucht, das ich kann.

    Use 'was' as a relative pronoun after indefinite pronouns like 'alles'.

↔Alternatives

  • Ich habe mein Bestes gegeben.

    I gave my best.

  • Ich bin mit meinem Latein am Ende.

    I'm at my wit's end.

de

Cultural Tip

Germans value thoroughness, so saying you've tried 'everything' is a strong statement. In professional settings, it's often followed by a suggestion for the next step or an admission of needing external help.