Before you start
Meet vortragen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
vor- + tragen
- vor-
- forward or before others
- tragen
- to carry
You carry words or music forward before an audience.
So vortragen means to present, perform, or recite.
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 tragen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
Separable verb: vor·tragen
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 clauseDie Schüler tragen ihre Arbeit vor.The students present their work.
Subordinate clauseIch höre zu, weil sie den Text vorträgt.I listen because she is reciting the text.
Participle: vorgetragenzu-infinitive: vorzutragen
Forms
How vortragen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | trage vor | trug vor |
| du | trägst vor | trugst vor |
| er/sie/es | trägt vor | trug vor |
| wir | tragen vor | trugen vor |
| ihr | tragt vor | trugt vor |
| Sie | tragen vor | trugen vor |
Partizip II vorgetragen · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich trage heute ein Lied vor.I’m performing a song today.present, prefix at the end
- 2Sie hat gestern ein Gedicht vorgetragen.She recited a poem yesterday.Perfekt with haben
- 3Er ist nervös, weil er morgen ein Lied vorträgt.He is nervous because he is performing a song tomorrow.verb at the end after weil
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
vortragen + das Gedicht
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use das Gedicht as the direct object.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She presented it 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 he presented the songdas Lied, everyonealle listenedzuhören.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I was nervousnervös because I had to present my textder Text.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The woman who presented the storydie Geschichte is my teacherder Lehrer · die Lehrerin.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Can you present it tomorrow?
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He practisedüben to present the poemdas Gedicht wellgut.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I would like to present the songdas Lied, but I am too shyschüchtern.
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:
vortragen + der Text + dass
Your challenge
- 1Include a dass-clause.
- 2Use the text as the direct object.
- 3Put the verb at the end of the dass-clause.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What would you like to present at a party?
Your challenge
- 1Answer in one sentence.
- 2Use vortragen to say what you would like to present.