Before you start
Meet anführen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
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.
Verb family
More verbs built on führen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
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
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
anführen + die Gruppe
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use die Gruppe as the object.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The teamdie Mannschaft was newneu, but she led it wellgut.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When he led the teamdie Mannschaft, he was verysehr youngjung.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
We stayedbleiben because she citedanführen goodgut reasonsder Grund, die Gründe.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The mander Mann who leads our groupdie Gruppe is my uncleder Onkel.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
You must cite the reasonder Grund in your letterder Brief.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She triedversuchen to lead the teamdie Mannschaft, although she was tiredmüde.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Would you lead our teamdie Mannschaft next yearnächstes Jahr?
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 9 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
anführen + die Mannschaft + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Use the present tense.
- 3Say that she listens to everyone in the main clause.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
Who would you like to lead, and why?
Your challenge
- 1Answer in one sentence using anführen.
- 2Use weil to give a reason.