zugrunde gehen
to perish
To be completely destroyed, go under, or die.
EXAMPLE
Ohne Wasser würden die Pflanzen in der Hitze schnell zugrunde gehen.
Without water, the plants would quickly perish in the heat.
zugrunde
to perish / underlie
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Meanings
zugrunde liegen
to underlie
To be the basis, cause, or foundation for something.
EXAMPLE
Der Untersuchung liegt die Annahme zugrunde, dass der Täter das Opfer kannte.
The investigation is based on the assumption that the perpetrator knew the victim.
zugrunde legen
to base on
To use something as the basis or starting point for an assessment, calculation, or decision.
EXAMPLE
Für die Kalkulation müssen wir die aktuellen Materialpreise zugrunde legen.
For the calculation, we have to base it on the current material prices.
zugrunde richten
to ruin
To completely ruin someone or something, both materially and morally.
EXAMPLE
Seine Spielsucht hat ihn und seine Familie finanziell zugrunde gerichtet.
His gambling addiction financially ruined him and his family.
Usage tips
Word structure
The word 'zugrunde' is a fixed combination of 'zu' (to) and 'Grunde', the dative of 'der Grund' (ground/basis). It literally means 'to the ground' or 'onto the ground'. This origin explains the meanings of destruction or basis.
EXAMPLE
Das alte Gebäude ist bei dem Sturm zugrunde gegangen.
The old building perished in the storm.
Sentence structure
'Zugrunde' is almost always used with a verb and behaves in the sentence like a separable prefix. In a main clause, the conjugated verb is in position 2 and 'zugrunde' is at the end. In a subordinate clause, both parts stand together at the end.
EXAMPLE
Seine Firma ging durch die Krise zugrunde.
His company went under because of the crisis.
Dative construction
The expression 'zugrunde liegen' (to underlie/be based on) is used with the dative. The thing that serves as the basis is the subject, and the thing for which it is the basis is in the dative.
EXAMPLE
Dem Vertrag liegt eine lange Verhandlung zugrunde.
A long negotiation underlies the contract.
Accusative construction
The expression 'zugrunde legen' (to base on/use as a basis) is used with an accusative object. The person acting is the subject, and the thing used as the basis is in the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Der Gutachter legte seiner Bewertung die neuesten Daten zugrunde.
The expert based his evaluation on the latest data.
Register
All expressions with 'zugrunde' belong more to written language or a formal style. 'Zugrunde liegen' (to underlie/be based on) and 'zugrunde legen' (to base on/use as a basis) are especially typical of academic, legal, or official texts.
EXAMPLE
Der Argumentation des Autors liegt ein Denkfehler zugrunde.
A flaw in reasoning underlies the author's argument.
Compare with
zugrunde vs sterben
to die
Sterben refers neutrally to the end of a life. Zugrunde gehen can also express a person's death, but it emphasizes more strongly a destructive process or harmful living conditions. Sterben is therefore more suitable for a simple announcement of someone's death.
zugrunde
Der Mann ging unter den harten Bedingungen der langen Gefangenschaft zugrunde.
The man perished under the harsh conditions of his long captivity.
sterben
Der Mann starb nach vielen Jahren in Gefangenschaft.
The man died after many years in captivity.
In real life
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