Before you start
Meet zugeben
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
All 4 meanings
- (transitive) to admit, confess (to own up to something)
- (transitive) to add (to a mixture)
- (archaic or regional) to allow (mostly used with negation or in a question)
- (card games, ambitransitive) to play (a card; especially of the same suit)
Build the meaning
zu- + geben
- zu-
- toward someone, as in handing something over
- geben
- to give
You give the point over to the other person by acknowledging it.
So zugeben means to admit or concede.
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·geben
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 clauseEr gibt seinen Fehler zu.He admits his mistake.
Subordinate clauseSie sagt, dass sie ihren Fehler zugibt.She says that she admits her mistake.
Participle: zugegebenzu-infinitive: zuzugeben
Forms
How zugeben changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | gebe zu | gab zu |
| du | gibst zu | gabst zu |
| er/sie/es | gibt zu | gab zu |
| wir | geben zu | gaben zu |
| ihr | gebt zu | gabt zu |
| Sie | geben zu | gaben zu |
Partizip II zugegeben · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Er gibt seinen Fehler zu.He admits his mistake.prefix goes to the end
- 2Sie hat die Wahrheit zugegeben.She admitted the truth.Perfekt with haben
- 3Ich muss zugeben, dass ich müde bin.I have to admit that I’m tired.with a modal verb
Verb family
More verbs built on geben
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.