Before you start
Meet hinfahren
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
hin- + fahren
- hin-
- toward a place away from the speaker or current location
- fahren
- to travel or drive
Travel by vehicle toward that other place.
So hinfahren means to go or drive there.
A memory aid, not a rule: prefixes change meaning from verb to verb.
Learning approach inspired by this explanation in r/German.
Separable verb: hin·fahren
In a main clause the prefix hin 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 fährt am Samstag zum Markt hin.He’s going to the market on Saturday.
Subordinate clauseIch weiß, dass du morgen zum Arzt hinfährst.I know that you’re going to the doctor tomorrow.
Participle: hingefahrenzu-infinitive: hinzufahren
Forms
How hinfahren changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | fahre hin | fuhr hin |
| du | fährst hin | fuhrst hin |
| er/sie/es | fährt hin | fuhr hin |
| wir | fahren hin | fuhren hin |
| ihr | fahrt hin | fuhrt hin |
| Sie | fahren hin | fuhren hin |
Partizip II hingefahren · Perfekt with sein
Three examples
- 1Ich fahre morgen zum Bahnhof hin.I’m going to the train station tomorrow.present with split prefix
- 2Wir sind gestern zum See hingefahren.We went to the lake yesterday.Perfekt with sein
- 3Sie bleibt zu Hause, weil sie nicht hinfahren kann.She is staying home because she can’t go there.verb at the end after weil
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
hin·fahren + der Bahnhof
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Say where you are going.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I went there with them yesterdaygestern.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When the busder Bus was latespät, we drove there by taxidas Taxi.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She is going there because her sisterdie Schwester is waiting for her.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The towndie Stadt that we drove to was very smallklein.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
You can go there by trainder Zug tomorrowmorgen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He went there to seebesuchen his friendder Freund.
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 drive there with me if it snowed?
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:
hin·fahren + der See + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Use the target verb in the present tense.
- 3Say that you are going to the lake.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
Where would you like to go next weekend?
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one sentence using the target verb.
- 2Name a place you would like to go.