Before you start
Meet zuwenden
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
All 3 meanings
- (transitive, also figurative) to turn [with accusative ‘something/someone’ and dative ‘to/towards something/someone’]
- (transitive) to devote [with accusative ‘something’ and dative ‘to someone/something’]
- (reflexive) to turn to, turn towards [with dative ‘someone/something’]
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.
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
Verb family
More verbs built on wenden
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.