Before you start
Meet zukommen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
All 2 meanings
- to come towards, come up to; to approach [with auf (+ accusative) ‘something’]
- to become, befit
Build the meaning
zu- + kommen
- zu-
- toward someone or something
- kommen
- to come
Something comes toward a person, literally approaching them or metaphorically awaiting them.
So zukommen means to come toward; to await or be in store for someone.
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·kommen
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 Hund kommt auf den Mann zu.The dog is coming towards the man.
Subordinate clauseIch bleibe ruhig, weil eine Prüfung auf mich zukommt.I stay calm because an exam is coming up for me.
Participle: zugekommenzu-infinitive: zuzukommen
Forms
How zukommen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | komme zu | kam zu |
| du | kommst zu | kamst zu |
| er/sie/es | kommt zu | kam zu |
| wir | kommen zu | kamen zu |
| ihr | kommt zu | kamt zu |
| Sie | kommen zu | kamen zu |
Partizip II zugekommen · Perfekt with sein
Three examples
- 1Das Kind kommt schnell auf mich zu.The child is quickly coming towards me.prefix goes to the end
- 2Auf uns ist gestern viel Arbeit zugekommen.A lot of work came our way yesterday.Perfekt with sein
- 3Wenn eine neue Aufgabe auf dich zukommt, bleib ruhig.When a new task comes your way, stay calm.verb at the end after wenn
Verb family
More verbs built on kommen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
- ankommento arrive
- vorkommento happen, occur, seem
- zurückkommento return
- hereinkommento come in
- herauskommento come out
- herkommento come here
- aufkommento come up, arise, pay for
- entgegenkommento come to meet, accommodate