Vorzuzeigen

Vorzuzeigen is the infinitive with zu of the German verb vorzeigen, which means to present or show something to someone, typically a person in authority or a requester. The form is used in formal and administrative language to indicate that a document or item must be demonstrated to another person. Common objects include identification documents, tickets, or proofs of eligibility.

Grammatically, vorzeigen is a separable verb. In finite clauses the prefix vor- splits: Ich zeige Ihnen den Ausweis vor. In clauses that use an infinitive with zu, the verb remains in its infinitive form with the prefix, appearing as vorzuzeigen: Es ist notwendig, den Ausweis vorzuzeigen. The zu-infinitive can also follow other verbs that govern an infinitive, for example: Sie müssen Ihre Unterlagen vorzeigen.

Usage notes distinguish vorzuzeigen from vorlegen. Vorzeigen emphasizes showing something directly to a person, while vorlegen focuses more on submitting documents for inspection or formal review. Both are common in administrative contexts, but the nuance differs depending on whether the emphasis is on presenting the item in person or submitting it for processing. English translations vary accordingly, such as to show/ present one’s ID or to display documents for inspection.

Examples include, Es ist erforderlich, den Reisepass vorzuzeigen, and Bitte zeigen Sie dem Beamten Ihren Führerschein vor. The form is predominantly found in bureaucratic or formal speech and writing, and is less common in casual conversation, where simpler verbs like zeigen or vorzeigen in active sentences are more typical.