Before you start
Meet vorbeugen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
vor- + beugen
- vor-
- forward or in advance
- beugen
- to bend
Bend forward—or act ahead of a problem to head it off.
So vorbeugen means to lean forward; to prevent or take precautions against.
A memory aid, not a rule: prefixes change meaning from verb to verb.
Learning approach inspired by this explanation in r/German.
Separable verb: vor·beugen
In a main clause the prefix vor splits off and goes to the end. After weil, dass and other subordinating words, the verb stays in one piece at the end.
Main clauseWir beugen Problemen früh vor.We prevent problems early.
Subordinate clauseSie isst gesund, weil sie Krankheiten vorbeugt.She eats healthily because she prevents illness.
Participle: vorgebeugtzu-infinitive: vorzubeugen
Forms
How vorbeugen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | beuge vor | beugte vor |
| du | beugst vor | beugtest vor |
| er/sie/es | beugt vor | beugte vor |
| wir | beugen vor | beugten vor |
| ihr | beugt vor | beugtet vor |
| Sie | beugen vor | beugten vor |
Partizip II vorgebeugt · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Wir beugen Krankheiten mit Sport vor.We prevent illness with exercise.prefix goes to the end
- 2Sie hat einer Erkältung vorgebeugt.She prevented a cold.Perfekt with haben
- 3Er macht Sport, damit er Krankheiten vorbeugt.He exercises so that he can prevent illness.prefix stays together in subordinate clause
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
vorbeugen + die Erkältung
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use die Erkältung as the dative object.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I leaned forward and listened to her.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When the teacherder Lehrer, die Lehrerin came in, I leaned forward.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She walksspazieren gehen every day because she wants to prevent back paindie Rückenschmerzen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The exercisedie Übung that helps prevent painder Schmerz is easy.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
You should take breaksdie Pause, die Pausen to prevent stressder Stress.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He eats fruitdas Obst to prevent a colddie Erkältung.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
How can we prevent this problemdas Problem?
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:
vorbeugen + die Krankheit + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Put the conjugated verb at the end of that clause.
- 3Use die Krankheit as the dative object.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What do you do to prevent stress? Answer in one German sentence.
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one German sentence.
- 2Say what you do to prevent something.