Before you start
Meet zurückkommen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
zurück- + kommen
- zurück-
- back to a previous place or state
- kommen
- to come
Someone comes back toward the place they left.
So zurückkommen means to come back; to return.
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
- hereinkommento come in
- herauskommento come out
- zukommento come towards, be in store
- herkommento come here
- aufkommento come up, arise, pay for
- entgegenkommento come to meet, accommodate
Separable verb: zurück·kommen
In a main clause the prefix zurück splits off and goes to the end. After weil, dass and other subordinating words, the verb stays in one piece at the end.
Main clauseWann kommst du zurück?When are you coming back?
Subordinate clauseIch bleibe hier, weil sie spät zurückkommt.I’ll stay here because she is coming back late.
Participle: zurückgekommenzu-infinitive: zurückzukommen
Forms
How zurückkommen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | komme zurück | kam zurück |
| du | kommst zurück | kamst zurück |
| er/sie/es | kommt zurück | kam zurück |
| wir | kommen zurück | kamen zurück |
| ihr | kommt zurück | kamt zurück |
| Sie | kommen zurück | kamen zurück |
Partizip II zurückgekommen · Perfekt with sein
Three examples
- 1Der Bus kommt um acht zurück.The bus comes back at eight.present with separated prefix
- 2Meine Schwester ist gestern zurückgekommen.My sister came back yesterday.Perfekt with sein
- 3Ich weiß, wann er zurückkommt.I know when he is coming back.verb at the end
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
zurückkommen + der Zug
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Say when the train comes back.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He came back yesterday, and I saw him.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When she came back from school, her mother was already at home.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
We are staying at home because Dad has not come back yet.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The woman who came back from work is my neighborder Nachbar, die Nachbarin.
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 come back before eight.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I hope to come back before dinnerdas Abendessen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Could you come back tomorrow?
Task 9 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
zurückkommen + dass + meine Schwester
Your challenge
- 1Start with a main clause expressing hope.
- 2Use a dass-clause.
- 3Put the verb at the end of that clause.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
When do you usually come back home? Answer in one German sentence.
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one sentence using the present tense.
- 2Say when you usually come back home.