Before you start
Meet anziehen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
an- + ziehen
- an-
- toward or onto
- ziehen
- to pull
Pull clothing onto yourself—or draw someone toward you.
So anziehen means to put on (clothing), to get dressed, or to attract.
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 ziehen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
Separable verb: an·ziehen
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 clauseEr zieht seine Schuhe an.He puts on his shoes.
Subordinate clauseIch warte, weil ich eine Jacke anziehe.I’m waiting because I’m putting on a jacket.
Participle: angezogenzu-infinitive: anzuziehen
Forms
How anziehen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | ziehe an | zog an |
| du | ziehst an | zogst an |
| er/sie/es | zieht an | zog an |
| wir | ziehen an | zogen an |
| ihr | zieht an | zogt an |
| Sie | ziehen an | zogen an |
Partizip II angezogen · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich ziehe heute eine Jacke an.I’m putting on a jacket today.prefix goes to the end
- 2Das Bild hat viele Gäste angezogen.The picture attracted many guests.Perfekt with haben
- 3Sie sagt, dass Musik viele Leute anzieht.She says that music attracts many people.verb at the end after dass
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
anziehen + der Mantel
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use der Mantel as the direct object.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I put it on this morningder Morgen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When it was coldkalt, I put on my coatder Mantel.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He put on his shoesder Schuh, die Schuhe because it was coldkalt.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The jacketdie Jacke that she put on is newneu.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
They must put it on before they go outausgehen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I forgotvergessen to put on my coatder Mantel.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Why does this colordie Farbe attract you?
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:
anziehen + der Pullover + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Use the present tense.
- 3Replace der Pullover with an accusative pronoun in the main clause.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What do you put on when it is cold outside?
Your challenge
- 1Answer with a wenn-clause.
- 2Say what you put on when it is cold.