01
vorziehen
to prefer
To like or prefer something or someone more than another person or thing.
example
Ich ziehe Tee dem Kaffee vor.
I prefer tea to coffee.
vorziehen
to prefer / move up / draw
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Separable verb
'Vorziehen' (to prefer / move up / draw) is a separable verb with the prefix 'vor-'. In a main clause, the prefix comes at the end. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Ich ziehe einen ruhigen Abend zu Hause vor.
I prefer a quiet evening at home.
Sentence structure for preferences
When expressing a preference, 'vorziehen' (to prefer) has a fixed structure: You prefer [something in the accusative] to [something else in the dative]. The thing you like more is in the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Er zieht das Landleben der Stadt vor.
He prefers country life to the city.
Typical collocations
In the meaning 'to move something to an earlier time', the verb is often combined with time-related nouns such as 'Termin' (appointment), 'Treffen' (meeting), 'Besprechung' (meeting/discussion), or 'Reise' (trip).
EXAMPLE
Wir haben unseren Urlaub um eine Woche vorgezogen.
We moved our vacation up by one week.
Context clue: curtains
The literal meaning 'to pull forward' is used almost exclusively in connection with curtains or drapes, in order to cover a window.
EXAMPLE
Es wird dunkel, du kannst schon mal die Vorhänge vorziehen.
It's getting dark; you can go ahead and draw the curtains.
Use in gardening
This meaning is a technical term from gardening. It is used for plants, herbs, or vegetables that you grow indoors from seeds before planting them outside.
EXAMPLE
Ich ziehe meine Tomaten jedes Jahr auf der Fensterbank vor.
I start my tomatoes indoors on the windowsill every year.
Compare with
vorziehen vs verlegen
to move / lay / misplace
'verlegen' and 'vorziehen' can both be used with appointments and events. 'verlegen' is more general: an appointment can be moved to another day, another time, or another place. 'vorziehen' is more specific: the appointment takes place earlier than planned. The words can be confused because 'vorziehen' can be one type of 'verlegen'. If it is only clear that the time or place is changing, you say 'verlegen'. If something is explicitly supposed to take place earlier, 'vorziehen' is more precise.
vorziehen
Am Montag zieht Samir die Besprechung auf neun Uhr vor.
On Monday, Samir moves the meeting up to nine o'clock.
verlegen
Wegen des Streiks verlegt die Schule die Prüfung auf nächste Woche.
Because of the strike, the school is moving the exam to next week.
In real life
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