Before you start
Meet anführen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
All 3 meanings
- to lead; to command
- to cite, to state, to point out
- to instruct
Build the meaning
an- + führen
- an-
- toward a point or at the front
- führen
- to lead
To lead people at the front, or bring a point forward as evidence.
So anführen means to lead; to cite.
A memory aid, not a rule: prefixes change meaning from verb to verb.
Learning approach inspired by this explanation in r/German.
Separable verb: an·führen
In a main clause the prefix an splits off and goes to the end. After weil, dass and other subordinating words, the verb stays in one piece at the end.
Main clauseDer Kapitän führt das Team an.The captain leads the team.
Subordinate clauseWir folgen ihr, weil sie die Gruppe anführt.We follow her because she is leading the group.
Participle: angeführtzu-infinitive: anzuführen
Forms
How anführen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | führe an | führte an |
| du | führst an | führtest an |
| er/sie/es | führt an | führte an |
| wir | führen an | führten an |
| ihr | führt an | führtet an |
| Sie | führen an | führten an |
Partizip II angeführt · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Sie führt die Gruppe an.She leads the group.prefix goes to the end
- 2Er hat einen Satz aus dem Buch angeführt.He quoted a sentence from the book.Perfekt with haben
- 3Ich weiß, dass sie zwei Gründe anführt.I know that she gives two reasons.verb at the end after dass
Verb family
More verbs built on führen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.