Before you start
Meet vorwerfen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
All 3 meanings
- (transitive) to throw at, throw forward
- (specifically) to feed to (throw at an animal as food)
- (figuratively, ditransitive) to accuse of, to reproach someone for something
Build the meaning
vor- + werfen
- vor-
- in front of someone; toward them
- werfen
- to throw
Throw a charge at someone by putting it in front of them.
So vorwerfen means to accuse; to reproach.
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·werfen
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 clauseMeine Mutter wirft mir mein Chaos vor.My mother reproaches me for my mess.
Subordinate clauseSie ist traurig, weil ihr Freund ihr einen Fehler vorwirft.She is sad because her boyfriend reproaches her for a mistake.
Participle: vorgeworfenzu-infinitive: vorzuwerfen
Forms
How vorwerfen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | werfe vor | warf vor |
| du | wirfst vor | warfst vor |
| er/sie/es | wirft vor | warf vor |
| wir | werfen vor | warfen vor |
| ihr | werft vor | warft vor |
| Sie | werfen vor | warfen vor |
Partizip II vorgeworfen · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich werfe ihm einen Fehler vor.I accuse him of a mistake.present, prefix at the end
- 2Sie hat mir gestern eine Lüge vorgeworfen.She accused me of a lie yesterday.Perfekt with haben
- 3Er kann seinem Bruder nichts vorwerfen.He can’t reproach his brother for anything.modal verb with infinitive