Before you start
Meet umdrehen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
um- + drehen
- um-
- around or over
- drehen
- to turn or rotate
Turn something around or over by rotating it.
So umdrehen means to turn over; to turn around.
A memory aid, not a rule: prefixes change meaning from verb to verb.
Learning approach inspired by this explanation in r/German.
Separable verb: um·drehen
In a main clause the prefix um 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 dreht den Becher um.He turns the cup upside down.
Subordinate clause…, weil er den Becher umdreht.…, because he turns the cup upside down.
Participle: umgedrehtzu-infinitive: umzudrehen
Forms
How umdrehen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | drehe um | drehte um |
| du | drehst um | drehtest um |
| er/sie/es | dreht um | drehte um |
| wir | drehen um | drehten um |
| ihr | dreht um | drehtet um |
| Sie | drehen um | drehten um |
Partizip II umgedreht · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich drehe mich morgen um.I will turn around tomorrow.present, prefix at end
- 2Sie hat das Bild umgedreht.She turned the picture over.Perfekt with haben
- 3Wenn du dich umdrehst, siehst du mich.If you turn around, you will see me.verb at the end after wenn
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
um·drehen + das Bild
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use das Bild as the object.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I turned it over.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When the teacherder Lehrer, die Lehrerin came inhereinkommen, everyone turned around.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She turned the picturedas Bild around because she couldn't seesehen it clearlyklar.
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 turned around was my fatherder Vater.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Please turn the paperdas Papier over before you writeschreiben.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He triedversuchen to turn his phonedas Handy over to seesehen the timedie Uhrzeit.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Could you turn the picturedas Bild around for me?
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:
um·drehen + obwohl + der Hund
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Use the simple past for both actions.
- 3Use a reflexive pronoun for yourself.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
When do you turn around to look at something?
Your challenge
- 1Answer with a wenn-clause.
- 2Use the present tense.
- 3Say what makes you turn around.