Light-verb construction 'in Kraft treten' (to come into force)

What it is: in Kraft treten is a light-verb construction meaning to come into force / to take effect. The noun Kraft (force) in the fixed phrase in Kraft carries the meaning; treten is the light verb.

When it is used: It is formal and used of laws, regulations, contracts and rules that become legally effective. It is intransitive - there is no object; the law or rule is the subject.

How it is formed:

• Subject (a law/rule) + in Kraft + treten

The opposite is außer Kraft treten (to cease to be in force) or außer Kraft setzen (to repeal).

Examples:

• Das Gesetz tritt morgen in Kraft. - The law comes into force tomorrow.
• Die neue Verordnung ist am 1. Januar in Kraft getreten. - The new regulation came into force on 1 January.
• Mit Ablauf der Frist tritt die Regelung außer Kraft. - When the deadline passes, the rule ceases to apply.

Common mistakes: It takes no object: a law cannot "in Kraft treten" something. The perfect uses sein: ist in Kraft getreten, not hat. Do not confuse intransitive treten (something comes into force) with causative setzen (someone puts something into force, in Kraft setzen).

'in Kraft treten' = to come into force / take effect.

Means 'to come into force' (laws/rules); no object.

'in Kraft treten' = wirksam werden (Gesetz, Regel).