verb
to require, to necessitate
B1
erfordern: to require or to necessitate (cause a need). Regular weak verb (erforderte, erfordert) with auxiliary haben. Non‑reflexive and not separable. Typically transitive—takes an accusative object ('Das Projekt erfordert Zeit'). Often used in formal, technical or administrative contexts and legal documents.
Examples
Die Reparatur erfordert spezielles Werkzeug.
The repair necessitates special tools.
Das Projekt erforderte viel Arbeit.
The project required a lot of work.
Das Projekt erforderte viel Zeit, sodass die Firma zusätzliche Mitarbeiter einstellte.
The project required a lot of time, so the company hired additional employees.
Details
Mnemonics
Imagine a checklist with a red item labeled 'erfordern' that must be ticked before moving on
sounds a bit like 'require' (er-REI-for-den)
Notes
A regular (weak) verb meaning 'to demand/require'. Often used in formal contexts (e.g., 'Das erfordert Aufmerksamkeit').