anführen

Anführen is a German verb with two main meanings. First, it means to lead or to be at the front of a group, organization, or movement, such as a commander who leads his troops or a captain who leads a team. Second, it means to cite or to mention as a source or example, for instance when a researcher cites a study as evidence or a speaker cites an example.

In usage, Anführen is commonly combined with objects like eine Gruppe, eine Armee, or eine Delegation to indicate leading them. Examples include: Der General führt die Armee an. Die Präsidentin führte die Delegation an. In its second sense, it is used with Beleg, Beispiel, or Quelle, as in: Die Studie wird als Beleg angeführt. Er führt mehrere Quellen als Belege an. In both senses, the verb can appear in formal or written contexts.

Grammar and forms: Anführen is a separable verb. In the present tense you say er führt die Gruppe an. In the past, er führte die Gruppe an. In perfect tense it is hat angeführt, regardless of sense (er hat die Gruppe angeführt / er hat als Beleg angeführt). The noun form das Anführen refers to the act of leading or citing.

See also: Führung (leadership), zitieren (to quote), Beleg (evidence). Anführen is a versatile term in German, used in both leadership contexts and in scholarly or argumentative writing.