Before you start
Meet zugehen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
All 6 meanings
- (intransitive) to shut
- (intransitive, of postal items) to receive [with dative]
- (intransitive, with auf) to approach sth. or so., to step up to someone, to walk towards [with accusative]
- (intransitive, colloquial, chiefly Austria, chiefly of pets) to come towards (in a manner of affection) [with dative]
- to take place in the expressed manner
- (idiomatic, regional, especially Austria, Bavaria) to be tumultuous, chaotic, turbulent
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.
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
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