Before you start
Meet zukommen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
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.
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
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
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
zu·kommen + der Bus
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Say that the bus is coming towards you.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He came towards me, and I waved tozuwinken him.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When the busder Bus came towards us, we moved asidezur Seite gehen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She is nervousnervös because a lot of workviel Arbeit is coming her way.
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 came towards us was my neighborder Nachbar, die Nachbarn.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
You must go to him if he comes towards you.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He triedversuchen to come towards me, but I was too far awayweit weg.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
What would come your way if you changed jobsden Job wechseln?
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:
zu·kommen + die Arbeit + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Say that much work is coming your way.
- 3Put the verb at the end of the obwohl-clause.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What might be in store for you next week? Answer in one German sentence using the verb.
Your challenge
- 1Answer in one sentence using the target verb.
- 2Say what might be in store for you next week.