Before you start
Meet zuführen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
All 2 meanings
- to feed, to supply, to procure
- to lead (of a path, road, etc.) [with auf (+ accusative) ‘to somewhere’]
Build the meaning
zu- + führen
- zu-
- toward a destination or recipient
- führen
- to lead or guide
To führen something zu a destination is to direct it there, such as supplying it to a person or feeding it into a process.
So zuführen means to supply, feed, or lead something to a destination.
A memory aid, not a rule: prefixes change meaning from verb to verb.
Learning approach inspired by this explanation in r/German.
Separable verb: zu·führen
In a main clause the prefix zu 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 Leitung führt Wasser ins Haus zu.The pipe supplies water to the house.
Subordinate clauseIch weiß, dass die Leitung Wasser ins Haus zuführt.I know that the pipe supplies water to the house.
Participle: zugeführtzu-infinitive: zuzuführen
Forms
How zuführen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | führe zu | führte zu |
| du | führst zu | führtest zu |
| er/sie/es | führt zu | führte zu |
| wir | führen zu | führten zu |
| ihr | führt zu | führtet zu |
| Sie | führen zu | führten zu |
Partizip II zugeführt · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Er führt dem Tier Wasser zu.He supplies the animal with water.prefix goes to the end
- 2Sie haben dem Mann Wasser zugeführt.They supplied the man with water.Perfekt with haben
- 3Weil sie dem Kind Essen zuführt, wird es ruhiger.Because she gives the child food, it becomes calmer.verb at the end after weil
Verb family
More verbs built on führen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.