Breakdown of Wir machen den Koffer zu.
wir
we
der Koffer
the suitcase
zumachen
to shut (everyday: mach zu!)
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Questions & Answers about Wir machen den Koffer zu.
Why is the word zu at the very end of the sentence?
This sentence uses a separable verb, zumachen (to shut or close). In German main clauses, the main part of the verb (machen) takes the normal second position, while the prefix (zu) gets kicked all the way to the end of the sentence.
I thought machen meant "to make" or "to do". Why does the sentence translate to "shutting"?
You are right that machen by itself means "to make" or "to do". However, when it is combined with the prefix zu, it creates a brand-new verb: zumachen, which means "to close" or "to shut". German uses these separable prefixes to completely change a verb's meaning!
Doesn't zu usually mean "to" or "too"?
Yes, as a standalone word, zu often means "to" (like going to a place) or "too" (like "too much"). But here it acts as a separable prefix belonging to the verb zumachen. When zu is used as a verb prefix, it often gives the idea of closing or shutting something.
Why is it den Koffer instead of der Koffer?
The noun Koffer (suitcase) is a masculine word. Because the suitcase is the direct object of the sentence—it is the thing being shut—the "the" changes from the subject form (der) to the object form (den). In grammar, this is called the accusative case.