to cover / tuck in
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to tuck in
To cover someone or oneself with a blanket, sheet, or something similar in order to provide warmth or a feeling of security.
Kannst du das Kind bitte zudecken, bevor du das Zimmer verlässt?
Could you please tuck the child in before you leave the room?
'Zudecken' (to cover/tuck in) is a separable verb. The prefix 'zu-' comes at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Ich decke dich später zu.
I'll tuck you in later.
When you cover a person with a blanket, that person or the corresponding pronoun is in the accusative. The verb can also be used reflexively: 'sich zudecken' (to cover oneself up).
Die Mutter deckt ihr schlafendes Kind zu.
The mother tucks in her sleeping child.
When you cover something, the preposition 'mit' (with) often follows, along with the material or object in the dative. The structure is: etwas (accusative) mit etwas (dative) zudecken.
Sie hat den Fleck auf dem Teppich mit einem kleinen Tisch zugedeckt.
She covered the stain on the carpet with a small table.
to cover / to set
'decken' and 'zudecken' can both mean that something is placed over a person or thing. 'decken' is more general and mainly describes covering or protecting. 'zudecken' sounds more concrete: you put something over something or someone, often a blanket, so that someone is warm or something is completely covered. Learners may confuse the words because both have to do with 'bedecken' (to cover). In everyday language, when talking about a child in bed, 'zudecken' sounds much more natural. 'decken' fits better in more general or more factual contexts.
Am Abend deckt Lena ihr Kind sorgfältig zu.
In the evening, Lena carefully tucks in her child.
Eine dicke Schneeschicht deckt die Pflanzen im Garten.
A thick layer of snow covers the plants in the garden.