Grammar Lessons
Lesson 7 - Separable Verbs
A characteristic feature of German is its ability to create verbs with new meanings through the addition of prefixes to nouns, adjectives, or other verbs.
For example:
- aus + gehen = ausgehen - to go out
- ver + kaufen = verkaufen - to sell
German has two categories of prefixes: inseparable prefixes and separable prefixes.
However, few prefixes exist that can be used in either catgory.
Also, a verb could have more than one prefix, each giving a new verb with a different meaning than the others.
Take the verb 'kommen' for example:
| Same Verb with Different Prefixes | |
|---|---|
| Verb | Meaning |
| kommen | to come |
| ankommen | to arrive |
| mitkommen | to come along |
| weiterkommen | to get on |
| hereinkommen | to come in |
| herauskommen | to come out |
| nachkommen | to come later |
| zurückkommen | to come back |
Inseparable Prefixes
These prefixes are always attached to the front end of a verb and are never removed from it
no matter the tense or form of the verb. When pronouncing a verb with an inseparable prefix,
the stress is always on the stem of the verb.
The table below shows these prefixes, along with some examples:
| Inseparable Prefixes | ||
|---|---|---|
| Prefix | Example Verb | Meaning |
| be- | bekommen | to get/receive |
| besuchen | to visit/attend | |
| emp- | empfehlen | to recommend |
| empfinden | to feel | |
| ent- | entlassen | to discharge/fire |
| entscheiden | to decide/determine | |
| er- | erfinden | to invent/make-up |
| erwarten | to expect/anticipate | |
| ge- | gehorchen | to obey |
| gestatten | to permit/allow | |
| miss- | missachtest | to disobey/disregard |
| misstrauen | to mistrust/suspect | |
| ver- | vergessen | to forget |
| verstehen | to understand | |
| zer- | zerstören | to destroy |
| zerkratzen | to scratch | |
The inseparable prefix remains attached to the verb when its conjugated. Notice the position of the inseparable prefix in the following examples:
- Ich verstehe sehr gut Deutsch - I understant very good German
- Ich besuche meine Eltern jeden Tag - I visit my parents everyday
Separable Prefixes
Separable prefixes are adverbs and prepositions that are detached from the verb when it is conjugated.
It would be completely impractical to list all of those prefixes; as there are many. When pronouncing a verb with a separable prefix,
the stress is always on the separable prefix.
The table below shows the most common ones along with some examples:
| Separable Prefixes | ||
|---|---|---|
| Prefix | Example Verb | Meaning |
| an- | ankommen | to arrive |
| anrufen | to phone somebody | |
| auf- | aufstehen | to wake up |
| aufhören | to stop/cease | |
| aus- | ausgehen | to go out |
| aussprechen | to pronounce | |
| bei- | beibringen | to teach |
| beitragen | to add/contribute | |
| ein- | einkaufen | to go shopping |
| einladen | to invite | |
| fort- | fortfahren | to continue/proceed |
| fortgehen | to go away | |
| mit- | mitgehen | to go along |
| mitarbeiten | to collaborate | |
| nach- | nachahmen | to imitate/copy |
| nacharbeiten | to rework/revise | |
| vor- | vorstellen | to present/introduce |
| vorbereiten | to prepare/set up | |
| weg- | wegfahren | to drive away |
| weglaufen | to run away | |
| zu- | zuhören | to listen |
| zunehmen | to increase/grow | |
As already mentioned, when a verb with a separable prefix is conjugated in the present tense, the separable prefix is detached from it. The prefix is moved to the end of its clause. Notice the position of the inseparable prefix in the following examples:
- Herr Bauer ruft seine Frau an - Mr Bauer is calling his wife
- Ich gehe mit meinen Freunden jeden Tag aus - I go out with my friends everyday
- Sie kauft im Supermarkt ein - She is shopping in the supermarket
Prefixes that can be Separable or Inseparable
A few prefixes exist that can be either separable or inseparable, depending on the way the verb is pronounced.
When the stress is on the prefix itself, the prefix is separable. But when the stress is on the stem of the verb,
it's a strong signal that the prefix is an inseparable one.
A few examples are shown in the next table:
| Prefixes that can be Separable or Inseparable | ||
|---|---|---|
| Prefix | Separable Verb | Inseparable Verb |
| durch- | durchfallen | durchdringen |
| um- | umsteigen | umarmen |
| wieder- | wiedergeben | wiederholen |
Of course, the verb conjugation depends on whether the prefix is separable or inseparable, as shown in the next example:
- Wir steigen in Berlin um (umsteigen) - We change (busses) in Berlin
- Wir umarmen uns (umarmen) - We embrace ourselves
That brings us to the end of this lesson. Make sure to solve the exercises associated with this lesson before proceeding to the next ones.