Before you start
Meet umgehen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
um- + gehen
- um-
- around or among something
- gehen
- to go
Imagine moving around within a situation and finding your way through it.
So umgehen means to deal with or handle.
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 gehen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
- ausgehento go out, assume
- eingehento deal with, give attention
- weitergehento go on
- angehento concern, go on
- zurückgehento go back, decrease
- hingehento go there
- zugehento approach, close
- aufgehento rise, open
Separable verb: um·gehen
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 clauseIch gehe gut mit Geld um.I handle money well.
Subordinate clause…, weil sie gut mit dem Problem umgeht.… because she handles the problem well.
Participle: umgegangenzu-infinitive: umzugehen
Forms
How umgehen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | gehe um | ging um |
| du | gehst um | gingst um |
| er/sie/es | geht um | ging um |
| wir | gehen um | gingen um |
| ihr | geht um | gingt um |
| Sie | gehen um | gingen um |
Partizip II umgegangen · Perfekt with sein
Three examples
- 1Er geht freundlich mit den Kindern um.He treats the children kindly.separable prefix at the end
- 2Sie ist gut mit dem Geld umgegangen.She handled the money well.Perfekt with sein
- 3…, weil er vorsichtig mit dem Glas umgeht.… because he handles the glass carefully.verb at the end after weil
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
um·gehen + der Stress
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use mit with der Stress.
- 3Say that he handles it well.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I dealt with it wellgut 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 my brotherder Bruder was angrywütend, I dealt with him calmlyruhig.
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Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She avoids the topicdas Thema because it is too difficultschwierig.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The womandie Frau who handles moneydas Geld works here.
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 handle the fooddas Essen carefullyvorsichtig.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He learnedlernen to deal with problemsdas Problem, die Probleme at workdie Arbeit.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
How do you deal with coldkalt weatherdas Wetter?
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·gehen + die Kritik + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Put the verb at the end of that clause.
- 3Say she handles the criticism calmly.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
How do you deal with stress in your everyday life?
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one sentence about your everyday life.
- 2Use the target verb to say how you handle stress.