Before you start
Meet vorlegen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
vor- + legen
- vor-
- in front of someone, for them to see or consider
- legen
- to lay or place
Lay something in front of someone so they can inspect or consider it.
So vorlegen means to present, show, or submit.
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 legen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
Separable verb: vor·legen
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 clauseEr legt dem Arzt seinen Pass vor.He shows the doctor his passport.
Subordinate clauseIch gehe, weil ich meinen Ausweis vorlege.I am going because I am showing my ID.
Participle: vorgelegtzu-infinitive: vorzulegen
Forms
How vorlegen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | lege vor | legte vor |
| du | legst vor | legtest vor |
| er/sie/es | legt vor | legte vor |
| wir | legen vor | legten vor |
| ihr | legt vor | legtet vor |
| Sie | legen vor | legten vor |
Partizip II vorgelegt · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich lege meinen Ausweis am Eingang vor.I show my ID at the entrance.prefix goes to the end
- 2Sie hat gestern einen neuen Plan vorgelegt.She presented a new plan yesterday.Perfekt with haben
- 3Du musst deine Karte vorlegen.You have to show your card.with a modal verb
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
vorlegen + der Ausweis
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Say who you show the ID to.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I showed her my ticketdie Fahrkarte at the airportder Flughafen.
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 teacherder Lehrer came inhereinkommen, I showed him my homeworkdie Hausaufgabe.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She showed the doctorder Arzt her test resultsdas Testergebnis, die Testergebnisse because he asked for them.
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 showed us her passportder Pass 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 show them your ticketsdie Fahrkarte, die Fahrkarten at the stationder Bahnhof.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He forgot to show the billdie Rechnung to his bossder Chef.
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 show me your IDder Ausweis, please?
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:
vorlegen + der Plan + dass
Your challenge
- 1Use a dass-clause.
- 2Put the target verb at the end of that clause.
- 3Say who receives the plan.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
When have you had to show an important document?
Your challenge
- 1Answer with a sentence using the target verb in the Perfekt.