vorhergehend
previous
Describes something that came directly before in time or in a sequence; former, earlier.
EXAMPLE
Im vorhergehenden Kapitel wurde die Hauptfigur eingeführt.
In the previous chapter, the main character was introduced.
vorhergehend
previous
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word structure
'Vorhergehend' is the present participle of the separable verb 'vorhergehen'. This is made up of 'vorher' (beforehand) and 'gehen' (to go) and means 'to take place before something else in time or space.' So 'vorhergehend' describes something that 'goes before.'
EXAMPLE
Die vorhergehende Diskussion hat bereits viele wichtige Punkte geklärt.
The previous discussion has already clarified many important points.
Sentence structure
This word is used almost exclusively as an adjective before a noun and is declined accordingly. Using it on its own after a verb like 'sein' (to be) is very rare and sounds unnatural.
EXAMPLE
Bitte lesen Sie den vorhergehenden Absatz noch einmal.
Please read the previous paragraph again.
Typical collocations
'Vorhergehend' is often used in formal or written contexts to refer to a sequence. Typical nouns are 'Kapitel' (chapter), 'Absatz' (paragraph), 'Jahr' (year), 'Monat' (month), or 'Tag' (day).
EXAMPLE
Im vorhergehenden Jahr war der Umsatz deutlich höher.
In the previous year, revenue was significantly higher.
Compare with
vorhergehend vs vorherig
previous
Both words can refer to something that comes directly before something else in time or in a sequence. vorherig is often used as an ordinary adjective before a specific noun, while vorhergehend places more emphasis on the process or position in a sequence. For individual things, vorherig usually sounds more natural; for process steps, vorhergehend is also a good choice.
vorhergehend
Bitte vergleichen Sie den vorhergehenden Schritt mit diesem Arbeitsschritt.
Please compare the preceding step with this step.
vorherig
Bitte vergleichen Sie die vorherige Version mit dieser Datei.
Please compare the previous version with this file.
In real life
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