sich kümmern um + Akkusativ
to take care of, to look after
The verb sich kümmern um (to take care of, to look after) always goes with the preposition um, and here um takes the Akkusativ (accusative). The preposition um always takes the Akkusativ, whatever the verb. The article follows the case: der Garten → um den Garten. For a thing you replace the whole phrase with darum; for a person you keep the preposition and use a pronoun: um ihn. You ask “Worum kümmerst du dich?” about a thing and “Um wen kümmerst du dich?” about a person.
At a glance
| Case | Akkusativ |
|---|---|
| Preposition + article | um den (masculine)um die (feminine)um das (neuter)um die (plural) |
| Thing → da-word | darum |
| Question about a thing | Worum …? |
| Person → pronoun | um ihn · um sie · um sie (pl) |
| Question about a person | Um wen …? |
Example sentences
- Ich kümmere mich um das Problem.
- Wer kümmert sich um den Garten?
- Kümmer dich bitte um deine Hausaufgaben!
- Ich kümmere mich um die Papiere.
- Wer kümmert sich um die Wohnung?
- Kümmer dich bitte um den Termin!
- Ich kümmere mich um die Kinder.
- Wer kümmert sich um den Hund?
Replacing the phrase: darum or a pronoun
Thing
Wer kümmert sich um den Garten?
Wer kümmert sich darum?
Question: Worum kümmerst du dich?
Person
Wer kümmert sich um den Hund?
Wer kümmert sich um ihn?
Question: Um wen kümmerst du dich?
Typical mistake
Learners often use über here. With kümmern in this meaning the preposition is um + Akkusativ: Wer kümmert sich um den Garten?
Don't confuse with
Drill sich kümmern um until it sticks
The free preposition trainer asks for the preposition with its article in real sentences, then the da-word and the question word. Verbs you miss come back a few tasks later in a different sentence.
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