I have seen many times these two verbs, for example:
Der Zug fährt ab
Ich fahre nach Deutschland
What are the differences between them and when to use each one?
Thanks
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Fahren means to drive. In your example, you're going to Germany. This is the actual movement. Note that this is sometimes generalized to a voyage, so it is also used if you're going by plane.
Abfahren means to depart. In your example, the train departs. This is only the start of the movement and is never used for planes.
answered Oct 26 '11 at 19:17
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4"abfahren" is also used for taking a junction of a highway/autobahn. "Du musst demnächst von der Autobahn abfahren.". – Joachim Sauer Oct 27 '11 at 7:53
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I was thinking about adding the information from your comment to my answer. But then, the comment is fine on its own, so just +1 for that. – OregonGhost Nov 8 '11 at 21:36
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fahren is the general verb for drive / go
Ich fahre mit dem Bus. - I go by Bus.
Ich fahre Bus. - I drive a Bus.
If the action of driving is not the main point, you rather use mit, when telling about what vehicle you'll use
Ich fahre mit dem Auto nach Deutschland.
That doesn't tell something about whether you drive it or not. It might be concluded from the context though.
ab has the sense of from / off [ / since]
So abfahren is about leaving from somewhere
Der Zug fährt ab. - The train departs.
Wann fahrt ihr ab[/los]?
There are not many use cases.
Using abfahren with the preposition auf, it has the meaning of a strong affection.
Er fährt auf sowas ziemlich ab
Using it in a predicative way, it has the meaning of exceptional / extraordinary
Das ist ja abgefahren!
