Before you start
Meet zusammenarbeiten
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
zusammen- + arbeiten
- zusammen-
- together, in combination
- arbeiten
- to work
People work together toward a shared task.
So zusammenarbeiten means to work together; to cooperate.
A memory aid, not a rule: prefixes change meaning from verb to verb.
Learning approach inspired by this explanation in r/German.
Separable verb: zusammen·arbeiten
In a main clause the prefix zusammen splits off and goes to the end. After weil, dass and other subordinating words, the verb stays in one piece at the end.
Main clauseDie Kinder arbeiten heute zusammen.The children are working together today.
Subordinate clause…, dass die Kinder zusammenarbeiten.… that the children work together.
Participle: zusammengearbeitetzu-infinitive: zusammenzuarbeiten
Forms
How zusammenarbeiten changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | arbeite zusammen | arbeitete zusammen |
| du | arbeitest zusammen | arbeitetest zusammen |
| er/sie/es | arbeitet zusammen | arbeitete zusammen |
| wir | arbeiten zusammen | arbeiteten zusammen |
| ihr | arbeitet zusammen | arbeitetet zusammen |
| Sie | arbeiten zusammen | arbeiteten zusammen |
Partizip II zusammengearbeitet · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Wir arbeiten im Team zusammen.We work together as a team.prefix goes to the end
- 2Sie haben gestern gut zusammengearbeitet.They worked well together yesterday.Perfekt with haben
- 3…, weil wir oft zusammenarbeiten.… because we often work together.verb at the end after weil
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
zusammenarbeiten + der Kollege
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Say that you work with der Kollege.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I worked with him yesterdaygestern.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When we worked together at the hoteldas Hotel, we oftenoft ate lunchzu Mittag essen together.
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Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She wants to work with them because they are friendlyfreundlich.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The womandie Frau who works with my brotherder Bruder speakssprechen three languagesdie Sprache, die Sprachen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
You can work with her tomorrowmorgen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He is happyglad to work with his sisterdie Schwester.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Did you work with them last summerletzten Sommer?
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:
zusammenarbeiten + der Nachbar + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Put that clause's verb at the end.
- 3Use a pronoun for der Nachbar in the main clause.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
Who would you like to work together with, and why?
Your challenge
- 1Answer in one sentence using zusammenarbeiten.
- 2Use würde to say who you would like to work with.
- 3Give your reason in a weil-clause.