As you know, German verbs can have separable prefixes. These prefixes change the meaning of the original verb, and make a new word. In the present tense, separable prefixes are separated from the verb and placed at the end of the sentence bracket. The separation rule also applies in the imperative. When used in the infinitive, however (e.g. with a modal auxiliary), separable prefix verbs are not divided. As you will shortly learn, the participle forms in the past tense are also combined.
| Hans steht jeden Tag um 9.00 Uhr auf. | Hans gets up every day at 9:00. |
| Hans, steh jetzt auf! | Hans, get up now! |
| Hans muss jeden Tag um 9.00 Uhr aufstehen. | Hans has to get up every day at 9:00. |
Common separable prefixes. Remember that this list is only a rough guide to the meanings of prefixes, since their use is highly idiomatic.
| ab = off, down | abholen | = to pick up |
| | abnehmen | = to take off |
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| an = at, on | anfangen | = to start, begin |
| | anrufen | = to call, telephone |
| | anziehen | = to put on, dress |
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| auf = up | aufhören | = to stop |
| | aufräumen | = to clean up |
| | aufstehen | = to get up, stand up |
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| aus = out | ausgehen | = to go out |
| | aussehen | = to look, appear |
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| ein = in, into | einkaufen | = to shop |
| | einschlafen | = to fall asleep |
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| fern = far | fernsehen | = to watch TV |
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| fort = away | fortgehen | = to leave, go away |
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| her = ‘hither’, to here | herholen | = to fetch |
| | herkommen | = to come from |
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| hin = ‘thither’, to there | hinstellen | = to place, put |
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| mit = with, along | mitbringen | = to bring along |
| | mitkommen | = to come along |
| | mitnehmen | = to take along |
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| nach = after | nachdenken | = to think, reflect |
| | nachfragen | = to inquire, ask after |
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| um = around, at | umsehen | = to look around |
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| vor = before | vorhaben | = to have planned |
| | vorstellen | = to introduce |
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| vorbei = by, past | vorbeikommen | = to come by |
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| weg = away | weggehen | = to go away, leave |
| | wegnehmen | = to take away |
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| zu = to, closed | zuhören | = to listen |
| | zumachen | = to close |
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| zurück = back | zurückgeben | = to give back |
| | zurückkommen | = to come back |
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| zusammen = together | zusammenkommen | = to come together | |
Some German verbs have recognizable prefixes that are INSEPARABLE, e.g. they remain with the verb at all times.
| Das Feuer zerstört unser Haus. | The fire is destroying our house. |
| Zerstör das Haus! | Destroy the house! |
| Das Feuer kann unser Haus zerstören. | The fire can destroy our house. |
The meanings of these prefixes are much harder to explain, since they often perform a grammatical function but do not have a direct English cognate. Nonetheless, here’s a short list of common INSEPARABLE prefixes and example verbs.
| be = makes a verb transitive | beantworten | = to answer (a question) |
| or turns action towards object | besuchen | = to visit |
| | bekommen | = to receive, get |
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| ent, emp = beginning of action | entgehen | = to escape |
| or separation | empfangen | = to receive |
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| er = stress on outcome | erleben | = to experience |
| or accomplishment | erkennen | = to recognize |
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| ge = result, completeness or | gewinnen | = to win or gain |
| successful action | gebrauchen | = to use up, consume |
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| miss = same as English ‘mis-’ | missverstehen | = to misunderstand |
| | missbrauchen | = to abuse |
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| ver = action of the verb has | verschlafen | = to oversleep |
| miscarried (BUT NOT ALWAYS!) | verlaufen | = to go astray |
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| zer = asunder, apart | zerbrechen | = to break into pieces |
| | zerstören | = to destroy | |
Let’s practice just a little. Form complete German sentences out of the elements.
| 1. | ich / vorbeikommen / heute / um 8 Uhr |
| | _______________________________________________________________________________________________ |
| 2. | wann / du / müssen / aufstehen ? |
| | _______________________________________________________________________________________________ |
| 3. | wir / gewinnen / das Fußballspiel . |
| | _______________________________________________________________________________________________ |
| 4. | Hans, / aufräumen / dein Zimmer! |
| | _______________________________________________________________________________________________ |
| 5. | Hans, / besuchen / mich ! |
| | _______________________________________________________________________________________________ |
| 6. | fernsehen / du / jetzt ? |
| | _______________________________________________________________________________________________ |
| 7. | erkennen / du / ihn ? |
| | _______________________________________________________________________________________________ |
| 8. | zurückgeben / mir / mein Buch ! |
| | _______________________________________________________________________________________________ |
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