Before you start
Meet vorwerfen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
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
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
vorwerfen + der Freund
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use der Freund as the person you reproach.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I reproached him for his mistakeder Fehler yesterday.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When my brotherder Bruder came home, I reproached him for being latezu spät kommen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I reproach him because he is alwaysimmer latespät.
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 whom he reproached is my teacherder Lehrer, die Lehrer (female: 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:
You must not reproach them for that.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
It is unfairungerecht to reproach her for a smallklein mistakeder Fehler.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Why did you reproach me for that?
Task 9 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
vorwerfen + der Vater + dass
Your challenge
- 1Use der Vater as the person you reproach.
- 2Include a dass-clause with its verb at the end.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
Have you ever reproached someone? What did you reproach them for?
Your challenge
- 1Answer in one sentence using the Perfekt.
- 2Name the person you reproached.
- 3Say what you reproached them for.