Before you start
Meet zuwenden
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
zu- + wenden
- zu-
- toward, in the direction of
- wenden
- to turn
Turn yourself toward someone or something, directing your attention to it.
So zuwenden means to turn toward; to devote oneself or one’s attention to.
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 wenden
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
Separable verb: zu·wenden
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 wende mich dem Fenster zu.I turn towards the window.
Subordinate clause…, weil ich mich dem Fenster zuwende.… because I turn towards the window.
Participle: zugewandtzu-infinitive: zuzuwenden
Forms
How zuwenden changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | wende zu | wandte zu |
| du | wendest zu | wandtest zu |
| er/sie/es | wendet zu | wandte zu |
| wir | wenden zu | wandten zu |
| ihr | wendet zu | wandtet zu |
| Sie | wenden zu | wandten zu |
Partizip II zugewandt · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich wende mich dem Fenster zu.I turn towards the window.prefix goes to the end
- 2Sie hat sich wieder ihrer Arbeit zugewandt.She has turned her attention back to her work.Perfekt with haben
- 3Er kann sich jetzt seiner Familie zuwenden.He can devote himself to his family now.modal verb with infinitive
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
zuwenden + der Lehrer
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use sich zuwenden with der Lehrer.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
After the meetingdas Treffen, she turned to him.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When I turned to her, she was already at the doordie Tür.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
He turned to them because they calledrufen him.
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 turned to me is my new neighborder Nachbar, die Nachbarn.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
You should turn your attentiondie Aufmerksamkeit to the childrendas Kind, die Kinder now.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She turned to her bookdas Buch to findfinden the answerdie Antwort.
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 turn your attention to this problemdas Problem?
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:
zuwenden + obwohl + der Sohn
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Use sich zuwenden with der Sohn.
- 3Finish with a main clause.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
When do you turn to your family for help?
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one German sentence.
- 2Use sich zuwenden with a dative person or group.