Before you start
Meet zulegen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
All 6 meanings
- (transitive) to add to, to put on
- (transitive) to put on, to gain (some unit of weight)
- (transitive, dative reflexive) to get (oneself), to acquire
- (intransitive) to put on weight
- (intransitive, financial) to increase
- (intransitive, colloquial) to pick up the pace
Build the meaning
zu- + legen
- zu-
- toward oneself or as an addition
- legen
- to lay or put
Imagine adding something to yourself, as when you acquire an item or put on weight.
So zulegen means to acquire or get for oneself; to put on weight; to increase.
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·legen
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 clauseIch lege mir heute ein neues Buch zu.I’m getting myself a new book today.
Subordinate clauseIch bin froh, weil ich mir ein neues Buch zulege.I’m happy because I’m getting myself a new book.
Participle: zugelegtzu-infinitive: zuzulegen
Forms
How zulegen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | lege zu | legte zu |
| du | legst zu | legtest zu |
| er/sie/es | legt zu | legte zu |
| wir | legen zu | legten zu |
| ihr | legt zu | legtet zu |
| Sie | legen zu | legten zu |
Partizip II zugelegt · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich lege mir ein neues Fahrrad zu.I’m getting myself a new bicycle.separable prefix at the end
- 2Sie hat sich ein warmes Kleid zugelegt.She got herself a warm dress.Perfekt with haben
- 3Er will zulegen, weil er zu dünn ist.He wants to put on weight because he is too thin.put on weight
Verb family
More verbs built on legen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.