Before you start
Meet antun
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
an- + tun
- an-
- toward or onto someone, with the action directed at them
- tun
- do
Do an action onto someone, making them the person affected by it.
So antun means to do something to someone.
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·tun
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 clauseWas tust du deinem Freund an?What are you doing to your friend?
Subordinate clauseIch glaube, dass du mir nichts antust.I think you're not doing anything to me.
Participle: angetanzu-infinitive: anzutun
Forms
How antun changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | tue an | tat an |
| du | tust an | tatest an |
| er/sie/es | tut an | tat an |
| wir | tun an | taten an |
| ihr | tut an | tatet an |
| Sie | tun an | taten an |
Partizip II angetan · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Du tust mir damit etwas an.You hurt me with that.present tense, main clause
- 2Sie hat ihrem Bruder nichts angetan.She did nothing to her brother.Perfekt with haben
- 3Ich weiß, was du mir antust.I know what you're doing to me.verb at the end
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
antun + der Bruder
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use der Bruder as the person affected.
- 3Say that she does nothing to him.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I have never done anything badschlimm to him.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When she was a childdas Kind, her olderälter brother oftenoft did something meangemein to her.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He is afraidAngst haben because someone onceeinmal did something terribleschrecklich to him.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The thingsdas Ding, die Dinge that he did to her stillimmer noch make her sadtraurig.
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 not do that to them.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She triedversuchen not to do anything badschlimm to her friendder Freund, die Freundin.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
What did they do to you?
Task 9 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
antun + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Use the Perfekt for antun.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What would you never do to a friend?
Your challenge
- 1Answer in one sentence.
- 2Use the verb in the Konjunktiv II.
- 3Say what you would never do to a friend.