Before you start
Meet zusammenfassen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
zusammen- + fassen
- zusammen-
- together into one whole
- fassen
- to grasp or gather
You gather the main points together and grasp them as one concise whole.
So zusammenfassen means to summarize; to sum up.
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·fassen
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 clauseSie fasst das Buch in drei Sätzen zusammen.She summarizes the book in three sentences.
Subordinate clauseEr ist froh, weil sie den Film kurz zusammenfasst.He is glad because she briefly summarizes the film.
Participle: zusammengefasstzu-infinitive: zusammenzufassen
Forms
How zusammenfassen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | fasse zusammen | fasste zusammen |
| du | fasst zusammen | fasstest zusammen |
| er/sie/es | fasst zusammen | fasste zusammen |
| wir | fassen zusammen | fassten zusammen |
| ihr | fasst zusammen | fasstet zusammen |
| Sie | fassen zusammen | fassten zusammen |
Partizip II zusammengefasst · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich fasse den Text kurz zusammen.I briefly summarize the text.prefix goes to the end
- 2Wir haben die Geschichte zusammengefasst.We summarized the story.Perfekt with haben
- 3Sie sagt, dass er den Plan zusammenfasst.She says that he summarizes the plan.verb at the end after dass
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
zusammenfassen + der Film
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use der Film as the thing you summarize.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I summarized it for her after classder Unterricht.
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 meetingdas Treffen ended, I summarized the main pointsdie Hauptpunkte for her.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I summarized the storydie Geschichte because my brotherder Bruder had not readlesen it.
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 summarizes our textsder Text, die Texte works with my sisterdie Schwester.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
We have to summarize the letterder Brief for him before we go home.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She wrote downaufschreiben the main pointsdie Hauptpunkte to summarize them later.
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 summarize the newsdie Nachrichten for me?
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:
zusammenfassen + dass
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense of zusammenfassen.
- 2Add a dass-clause with its verb at the end.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What would you like to summarize for a friend?
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one thing you would summarize.
- 2Use zusammenfassen in the infinitive after würde.