Before you start
Meet vorübergehen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
vorüber- + gehen
- vorüber-
- past and beyond a point
- gehen
- to go, walk
Go past and beyond a point.
So vorübergehen means to pass by; to go by.
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
- umgehento treat, handle
- hingehento go there
- zugehento approach, close
Separable verb: vorüber·gehen
In a main clause the prefix vorüber 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 geht an meinem Haus vorüber.He walks past my house.
Subordinate clauseIch warte, bis der Zug vorübergeht.I’ll wait until the train passes by.
Participle: vorübergegangenzu-infinitive: vorüberzugehen
Forms
How vorübergehen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | gehe vorüber | ging vorüber |
| du | gehst vorüber | gingst vorüber |
| er/sie/es | geht vorüber | ging vorüber |
| wir | gehen vorüber | gingen vorüber |
| ihr | geht vorüber | gingt vorüber |
| Sie | gehen vorüber | gingen vorüber |
Partizip II vorübergegangen · Perfekt with sein
Three examples
- 1Die Zeit geht heute sehr schnell vorüber.Time is passing very quickly today.prefix goes to the end
- 2Der Mann ist an unserem Haus vorübergegangen.The man walked past our house.Perfekt with sein
- 3Ich bleibe hier, bis der Regen vorübergeht.I’ll stay here until the rain passes.verb at the end
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
vorübergehen + der Tag
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Say that the day passes quickly.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The dayder Tag passed quicklyschnell, and I hardly noticedbemerken it.
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 passed us, we went homenach Hause gehen.
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 sadtraurig because the holidaydie Ferien is passing so quicklyschnell.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The daysder Tag, die Tage that pass quicklyschnell are oftenoft the bestgut.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Timedie Zeit can pass quicklyschnell when you are having funder Spaß.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I hopehoffen the eveningder Abend will pass quicklyschnell.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Has the painder Schmerz passed yetschon?
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:
vorübergehen + der Regen + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Put the conjugated verb at the end of that clause.
- 3Say that we stayed outside.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What in your life passes too quickly? Answer in one German sentence.
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one German sentence.
- 2Use the present tense and say what passes too quickly.