Before you start
Meet anzeigen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
All 4 meanings
- to display, to show (a measurement e.g. time, temperature, speed etc.)
- to indicate
- to announce (a marriage, engagement, change of premises etc.); to advertise
- to report (to the police)
Build the meaning
an- + zeigen
- an-
- toward someone or something; bringing something to their attention
- zeigen
- to show
You show something to the relevant person or authority, bringing it to their attention.
So anzeigen means to report; to display; to indicate.
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·zeigen
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 clauseSie zeigt den Weg an.She indicates the way.
Subordinate clauseEr ruft die Polizei, weil jemand ihn angezeigt hat.He calls the police because someone reported him.
Participle: angezeigtzu-infinitive: anzuzeigen
Forms
How anzeigen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | zeige an | zeigte an |
| du | zeigst an | zeigtest an |
| er/sie/es | zeigt an | zeigte an |
| wir | zeigen an | zeigten an |
| ihr | zeigt an | zeigtet an |
| Sie | zeigen an | zeigten an |
Partizip II angezeigt · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich zeige den Unfall bei der Polizei an.I report the accident to the police.reporting an accident
- 2Die App hat einen Fehler angezeigt.The app showed an error.Perfekt: showing information
- 3Das Schild zeigt an, dass der Laden offen ist.The sign indicates that the shop is open.indicating something
Verb family
More verbs built on zeigen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.