01
vorausgehen
to go ahead
To walk or drive ahead of someone or something else in a spatial sense.
example
Gehen Sie nur voraus, ich kenne den Weg und folge Ihnen.
Go ahead, I know the way and will follow you.
vorausgehen
to precede / go ahead
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Separable verb
'Vorausgehen' (to precede / go ahead) is a separable verb. In a main clause, the prefix 'voraus' (ahead / in advance) comes at the end. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Der Guide ging der Gruppe im Museum voraus.
The guide went ahead of the group in the museum.
Word structure
The verb is made up of the directional particle 'voraus' (ahead, in advance) and the verb 'gehen' (to go). This structure helps you understand both the spatial and the temporal meaning: something goes or happens before something else.
EXAMPLE
Bitte geh schon mal voraus und reserviere einen Tisch.
Please go ahead and reserve a table.
Perfect tense with 'sein'
The perfect tense of 'vorausgehen' (to precede / go ahead) is always formed with the auxiliary verb 'sein' (to be), since it describes a movement or a process. This applies to both the spatial and the temporal meaning.
EXAMPLE
Er ist uns vorausgegangen, um den Weg zu prüfen.
He went ahead of us to check the route.
Dative construction
In the temporal meaning, the event that takes place later is in the dative. The sentence structure is often: subject (what happens beforehand) + verb + dative object (what happens afterward).
EXAMPLE
Dem Finale ging ein spannendes Halbfinale voraus.
The final was preceded by an exciting semifinal.
Compare with
vorausgehen vs folgen
to follow
'folgen' and 'vorausgehen' describe a sequence, but from opposite directions. Spatially, 'folgen' means that someone walks or drives behind a person or thing. 'vorausgehen' means that someone goes ahead. In time, 'folgen' means that something comes afterward. 'vorausgehen' means that something happens beforehand. Learners may confuse the words because both express a sequence. The important thing is the direction you are looking from: 'folgen' means behind or afterward, while 'vorausgehen' means ahead or beforehand.
vorausgehen
Bei der Wanderung geht Anna voraus, damit die anderen den Weg finden.
On the hike, Anna goes ahead so that the others can find the way.
folgen
Nach der kurzen Pause folgt das Team dem Reiseleiter durch die Altstadt.
After the short break, the team follows the tour guide through the old town.
In real life
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