"The girls listen."
Translation:Die Mädchen hören zu.
10 Comments
937
Zu is necessary because the verb zuhören means to listen. Hören alone would mean to hear.
- 37
Wait, why is "zu" separated from "hören" and inverted? Shouldn't it be "Die Mädchen zuhören"?
Many German verbs are separable-prefix verbs. The infinitive is zuhören, but whenever the verb is conjugated or in a main clause, the prefix is separated from the verb. This hasn't been introduced in Duolingo yet... But it will be soon. Separable-prefix verbs are definitely a headache for German learners!
- 937
I am wondering if "die Mädchen zuhören" would be acceptable, (since the separable verb might not need to be separated in such a short sentence)?
- 2073
No, that doesn't work. In present tense the inflected verb is to be separated in a main clause.
Wenn die Jungen zuhören, dann hören die Mädchen auch zu.
is zu hoeren here in dative? can accusative be also used auf hoeren or hoeren auf? [ no umlauts on computer]. sorry. Sandra
