Ich ziehe das Kleid an.

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Breakdown of Ich ziehe das Kleid an.

• anziehen: to put on
• das Kleid: the dress

Questions & Answers about Ich ziehe das Kleid an.

Why is the verb split into ziehe and an instead of just using one word?

Because anziehen is a separable-prefix verb in German. In a main clause in the present tense, the prefix an moves to the end of the sentence. The core verb is ziehe, so you get Ich ziehe … an. The infinitive form is anziehen (“to put on”).

Why is das Kleid in the accusative case?

Das Kleid is what you’re putting on, so it’s the direct object of the verb anziehen, which takes the accusative case. Since Kleid is neuter, the accusative article is das (which happens to be identical to its nominative form).

What’s the difference between anziehen and tragen?

Anziehen means “to put on” (the action of dressing), while tragen means “to wear” (the state of having clothing on). You ziehen the dress an in the morning, and then you trägst it during the day.

Why isn’t there a reflexive pronoun like mich in Ich ziehe das Kleid an? Wouldn’t that be “I get myself dressed”?

You only use a reflexive pronoun (e.g. Ich ziehe mich an) when you don’t specify what you’re putting on and want to say “I’m getting dressed.” If you name the garment, you use it as a direct object instead. Thus ich ziehe das Kleid an literally means “I put the dress on.”