Before you start
Meet zutrauen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
All 4 meanings
- to think [with dative ‘someone’] capable [with accusative ‘of something’ or zu (+ infinitive) or dass ‘of doing something’]
- (with something negative) not to put it past [with dative ‘someone’] to do [with accusative or zu (+ infinitive) or dass ‘something’]
- (with some indefinite pronoun) to have (a specified degree of) confidence [with dative ‘in someone’s skills’]
- (archaic) synonym of vertrauen: to trust [with dative ‘someone’]
Build the meaning
zu- + trauen
- zu-
- toward someone, as something attributed to them
- trauen
- to trust
You direct your trust toward someone and attribute the ability to do something to them.
So zutrauen means to believe someone is capable of doing something.
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·trauen
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 clauseEr traut seinem Sohn viel zu.He believes his son can do a lot.
Subordinate clauseSie sagt, dass er mir das zutraut.She says that he thinks I can do it.
Participle: zugetrautzu-infinitive: zuzutrauen
Forms
How zutrauen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | traue zu | traute zu |
| du | traust zu | trautest zu |
| er/sie/es | traut zu | traute zu |
| wir | trauen zu | trauten zu |
| ihr | traut zu | trautet zu |
| Sie | trauen zu | trauten zu |
Partizip II zugetraut · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich traue dir diese Arbeit zu.I think you can do this work.prefix goes to the end
- 2Sie hat ihm den Sieg zugetraut.She believed he could win.Perfekt with haben
- 3Ich bleibe hier, weil ich es ihr zutraue.I’ll stay here because I think she can do it.verb at the end after weil