German Phrase
Schreib auf, wann die Symptome angefangen haben.
Meaning
The sentence is a polite instruction asking someone to write down the moment when their symptoms first appeared. It combines an imperative command with an indirect question about timing.
When to use
Use this phrase in a medical setting when you want a patient to note the onset of their symptoms, for example on a health questionnaire, during a doctor’s visit, or in a tele‑medicine chat.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Schreibauf,wanndieSymptomeangefangenhaben.
Imperative (du) of trennbares Verb
‘Schreib’ is the du‑imperative of ‘schreiben’. With separable verbs like ‘aufschreiben’, the prefix ‘auf’ moves to the end in the imperative.
Indirect question with ‘wann’
‘wann’ introduces an indirect question (a subordinate clause) and does not trigger inversion.
Present perfect of ‘anfangen’
‘anfangen’ forms the perfect with ‘haben’: ‘angefangen haben’. The auxiliary stays at the end of the clause.
Article and plural noun
‘die Symptome’ uses the definite article ‘die’ for plural nouns.
🗨In Conversation
Schreib auf, wann die Symptome angefangen haben.
Write down when the symptoms started.
Ich habe am Montagmorgen plötzlich Kopfschmerzen bekommen.
I suddenly got a headache on Monday morning.
✕Common Mistakes
Schreibe auf, wann die Symptome angefangen haben.
‘Schreibe’ is grammatically correct but sounds overly formal for the du‑imperative; most native speakers use the shortened ‘Schreib’.
Schreib auf, wann die Symptome angefangen hat.
The verb must agree with the plural subject ‘die Symptome’, so the auxiliary stays plural ‘haben’.
Schreib auf, wann die Symptome begannen haben.
Do not combine the simple past ‘begannen’ with ‘haben’; use either ‘begannen’ alone or the perfect ‘angefangen haben’.
↔Alternatives
Notiere, wann die Symptome begannen.
Note when the symptoms began.
Schreibe auf, wann die Beschwerden auftraten.
Write down when the complaints occurred.
Bitte vermerke das Anfangsdatum deiner Symptome.
Please record the start date of your symptoms.
Cultural Tip
In German medical contexts the formal ‘Sie’ form is usually preferred. The formal version would be ‘Schreiben Sie auf, wann die Symptome begonnen haben.’ Using the informal ‘du’ (Schreib auf…) is acceptable only if you have a familiar relationship with the patient or in a casual self‑assessment app.