German Phrase
Mach immer deine Alarmanlage an.
Meaning
The sentence is a direct reminder to always switch on your alarm system, typically before leaving a house or apartment. It conveys a sense of responsibility for personal safety.
When to use
Use this phrase when giving a friend, family member, or roommate a safety tip, or when reminding yourself in a checklist for leaving the house.
✦Grammar Breakdown
MachimmerdeineAlarmanlagean
Imperativ von 'machen'
‘Mach’ is the informal singular imperative of ‘machen’, used for direct commands.
Adverb ‘immer’
‘immer’ means ‘always’ and is placed directly after the verb in the imperative.
Possessive ‘deine’
‘deine’ matches the feminine noun ‘Alarmanlage’ in gender, number, and case.
Separable verb prefix ‘an’
‘anmachen’ is a separable verb; in the imperative the prefix ‘an’ moves to the end of the clause.
Noun ‘Alarmanlage’
‘Alarmanlage’ is a feminine noun (die Alarmanlage) meaning ‘alarm system’.
🗨In Conversation
Mach immer deine Alarmanlage an.
Always turn on your alarm system.
Ja, das mache ich immer, wenn ich das Haus verlasse.
Yes, I always do that when I leave the house.
✕Common Mistakes
Mach immer dein Alarmanlage an.
‘Alarmanlage’ is feminine, so the possessive must be ‘deine’, not ‘dein’.
Mache immer deine Alarmanlage an.
In informal spoken German the -e ending is dropped; ‘Mache’ sounds overly formal.
Immer deine Alarmanlage an mach.
The separable prefix ‘an’ must stay at the end of the clause, not be moved before the verb.
Mach immer deine Alarm an.
‘Alarm’ alone is a noun meaning ‘alarm (sound)’, not the whole system; use ‘Alarmanlage’.
↔Alternatives
Schalte deine Alarmanlage immer ein.
Always switch your alarm system on.
Vergiss nicht, deine Alarmanlage zu aktivieren.
Don’t forget to activate your alarm system.
Bitte denk dran, die Alarmanlage anzumachen.
Please remember to turn the alarm system on.
Cultural Tip
In German‑speaking households, talking about ‘die Alarmanlage’ is common for apartments and houses in urban areas. The imperative can sound blunt, so in polite conversation you might soften it with ‘Bitte’ or use a suggestion like ‘Du solltest…’. Regional dialects may use ‘der Alarm’ instead of ‘die Alarmanlage’, but the standard phrase works everywhere in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.