Before you start
Meet zugehen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
zu- + gehen
- zu-
- toward a destination or into a closed position
- gehen
- to go
Go toward something, or go until it is shut.
So zugehen means to approach; to close.
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 gehen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
- ausgehento go out, assume
- eingehento deal with, give attention
- weitergehento go on
- angehento concern, go on
- zurückgehento go back, decrease
- umgehento treat, handle
- hingehento go there
- aufgehento rise, open
Separable verb: zu·gehen
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 clauseDer Mann geht langsam auf uns zu.The man is slowly coming towards us.
Subordinate clauseIch sehe, dass das Fenster zugeht.I can see that the window is closing.
Participle: zugegangenzu-infinitive: zuzugehen
Forms
How zugehen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | gehe zu | ging zu |
| du | gehst zu | gingst zu |
| er/sie/es | geht zu | ging zu |
| wir | gehen zu | gingen zu |
| ihr | geht zu | gingt zu |
| Sie | gehen zu | gingen zu |
Partizip II zugegangen · Perfekt with sein
Three examples
- 1Der Hund geht auf mich zu.The dog is coming towards me.approaching someone
- 2Die Tür ist schnell zugegangen.The door closed quickly.Perfekt with sein
- 3Ich glaube, dass der Laden um acht zugeht.I think the shop closes at eight.verb at the end after dass
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
zugehen + die Tür
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Say that the door is closing.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The doordie Tür closed, and I openedöffnen it againwieder.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When I approached him, he was waitingwarten at the stationder Bahnhof.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She came closernäher kommen because she wanted to talkreden to me.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The mander Mann who approached us was my newneu neighborder Nachbar.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
You can approach her after the lessonder Unterricht.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He went outsidedraußen to talkreden to the neighborsder Nachbar, die Nachbarn.
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 the doordie Tür close when you openedöffnen the windowdas Fenster?
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:
zugehen + das Fenster + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Put the verb at the end of that clause.
- 3Add a main clause after it.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
Who do you find it easy to approach, and why?
Your challenge
- 1Answer with a person you find easy to approach.
- 2Use auf with an accusative pronoun or noun.
- 3Give a reason with a weil-clause.