German Verb Prefixes (Separable & Inseparable Prefixes)
In this lesson, you will learn German verb prefixes. Verb prefixes in German can be separable or inseparable.
Verb prefixes in German
As you know, a prefix is an affix placed before a word’s stem. Adding it to the beginning of one word changes it into another word. In German, most verbs are formed by combining a root verb with a prefix.
Verb prefixes can be separable or inseparable in German. However, there are three main types of verb prefixes in German:
⭐ Inseparable prefixes (Trennbare Präfixe)
⭐ Separable prefixes (Untrennbare Präfixe)
⭐ Dual Prefixes
❗ Prefixes can be found in strong, weak and mixed verbs.
Inseparable German Verb Prefixes
Inseparable prefixes remain attached to the verb. These prefixes are always unstressed, and their past participle form does not have the prefix “ge-“.
The most commonly used inseparable prefixes are shown in Table 1.1:
| be-, emp-, ent-, er-, ge-, ver-, zer- |
Some inseparable verbs in German are shown in Table 1.2:
| stellen (to put) | be- | bestellen (to order) |
| fehlen (to lack) | emp | empfehlen (recommend) |
| gehen (to go) | ent | entgehen (to escape) |
| stehen (to stand) | er | erstehen (to purchase) |
| fallen (to fall) | ge | gefallen (to like) |
| bringen (to bring) | ver | verbringen (to spend) |
| reißen (to tear) | zer | zerreißen (to tear up) |
Inseparable verbs keep their prefix and are, for the most part, conjugated as normal verbs. An example of verb conjugation is shown in Table 1.3.
| stellen (to put) | bestellen (to order) | |
| ich | stelle | bestelle |
| du | stellst | bestellst |
| er/sie/es | stellt | bestellt |
| wir | stellen | bestellen |
| ihr | stellt | bestellt |
| sie/Sie | stellen | bestellen |
-Ich zahle lieber mit Münzen.
I prefer to pay with coins.
-Thomas erzählt interessante Geschichten.
Thomas tells exciting stories.
-Das Handy gehört mir.
The cell phone is mine.
-Thomas verkauft sein altes Auto.
Thomas sells his old car.
-Ich erkenne diesen Stadtteil.
I recognize this part of the city.
Separable German Verb Prefixes
Separable prefixes are called separable because they are separated from the root under certain conditions, and these types of verbs are very widely used in German. Moreover, these prefixes are always stressed.
The most commonly used inseparable prefixes are shown in Table 1.4:
| ab-, an-, auf-, aus-, ein-, los-, mit-, vor-, weg-, weiter- |
Some separable verbs in German are shown in Table 1.5:
| holen (to fetch , to get) | ab- | abholen to pick up |
| fangen to catch | an- | anfangen to begin |
| machen make | auf- | aufmachen to open |
| denken think | aus- | ausdenken to imagine |
| kaufen buy | ein- | einkaufen to shop |
| sehen to see | fern- | fernsehen to watch TV |
| kommen come | her- | herkommen to come here |
| sehen to see | vor- | vorsehen to provide |
| fahren drive | weg- | wegfahren to drive away |
| geben give | weiter- | weitergeben to pass on |
Separable verbs follow the same pattern as other verbs (weak, strong or mixed). However, we have to do something extra:
➡️ chop off the prefix
➡️ conjugate the verb as usual (which is conjugated as if it were a normal, standalone verb)
➡️ put the prefix at the end of the clause or the sentence
An example of verb conjugation is shown in Table 1.6.
| machen to make | aufmachen to open | |
| ich | mache | mache … auf |
| du | machst | machst … auf |
| er/sie/es | macht | macht … auf |
| wir | machen | machen … auf |
| ihr | macht | macht … auf |
| sie/Sie | machen | machen … auf |
-Was machen wir jetzt?
What do we make now?
-Ich mache das Fenster auf.
I open the window.
-She sieht den ganzen Tag fern.
She watches TV all day.
-Er kommt nie rechtzeitig an.
He never arrives on time.
-Ich wache um 05:00 Uhr auf.
I wake up at 5:00 a.m.
-Der Schulbus fährt morgens um 06.30 ab.
The school bus leaves at 06.30 in the morning.
-Wann kommt der Schulbus an?
When does the school bus arrive?
