to present
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to present
To introduce, demonstrate, or show something (e.g., a product, an idea, a result) to a group of people.
Morgen werde ich meine Projektergebnisse dem Vorstand präsentieren.
Tomorrow I will present my project results to the board.
When you say to whom you are presenting something, this verb often needs two objects: the person is in the dative, and the thing being shown is in the accusative. The structure is: subject + verb + dative object + accusative object.
Der Mitarbeiter präsentiert dem Chef die Quartalszahlen.
The employee presents the quarterly figures to the boss.
'Präsentieren' (to present) means 'vorstellen' (to introduce) or 'zeigen' (to show). It does not mean 'ein Geschenk machen' (to give a gift), even though the English word 'present' can also mean 'Geschenk' (gift). To give a gift, German uses the verb 'schenken' (to give as a gift).
Ich schenke meiner Freundin zum Geburtstag ein Buch.
I'm giving my girlfriend a book for her birthday.
In a professional or academic context, 'präsentieren' (to present) is often combined with words like 'Ergebnisse' (results), 'eine Lösung' (a solution), 'ein Konzept' (a concept), or 'einen Vortrag' (a talk/presentation).
In der nächsten Sitzung müssen wir eine Lösung für das Problem präsentieren.
In the next meeting, we have to present a solution to the problem.
In the meaning 'sich darstellen' (to portray oneself), 'präsentieren' (to present) is a reflexive verb. The reflexive pronoun ('sich', 'mich', 'dich', etc.) must be adapted to the subject of the sentence.
Ich muss mich auf der Konferenz gut präsentieren.
I have to present myself well at the conference.
to show
'zeigen' and 'präsentieren' can both mean that others see or get to know something. 'zeigen' is very general and fits many everyday situations: you show a photo, a route, or a function. 'präsentieren' sounds more planned and often more formal. You use it when presenting something to a group, for example results, a product, or an idea. 'präsentieren' can also emphasize how you present yourself or something publicly.
Morgen präsentiert das Team die neuen Ergebnisse im Meeting.
Tomorrow the team will present the new results in the meeting.
Er zeigt der Kassiererin den Gutschein, weil der Preis falsch ist.
He shows the cashier the voucher because the price is wrong.