German Verb Prefixes (Separable & Inseparable Prefixes)
In this lesson, we delve into the realm of German verb prefixes. These prefixes can either be separable or inseparable, depending on how they behave within the sentence.
Understanding German Verb Prefixes
A prefix is a linguistic element added to the beginning of a word, altering its meaning. In German, many verbs are formed by combining a basic verb with a specific prefix.
German verb prefixes primarily fall into three categories:
- Inseparable Prefixes (Untrennbare Präfixe)
- Separable Prefixes (Trennbare Präfixe)
- Dual Prefixes
❗ It’s important to note that prefixes can be applied to strong, weak, and mixed verbs alike, affecting their conjugation and meaning.
Inseparable Prefixes in German Verbs
In German, certain prefixes are inseparable, meaning they always stay attached to the verb. A key feature of these inseparable prefixes is that they are unstressed, and when forming the past participle of the verb, the prefix “ge-” is omitted.
For example:
- verstehen (to understand) → verstanden (understood)
- bezeichnen (to designate) → bezeichnet (designated)
Table 1.1 showcases the most frequently used inseparable prefixes. These prefixes are common in German verbs and are essential to recognize when forming and conjugating verbs correctly.
| be-, emp-, ent-, er-, ge-, ver-, zer- |
Now, let’s delve deeper into how these prefixes modify the meanings of certain verbs. Refer to Table 1.2 for a list of verbs with inseparable prefixes and how these prefixes alter their meanings.
| 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) |
This transformation in meaning is evident when a prefix is added to a base verb.
For the most part, inseparable verbs are conjugated just like regular verbs. The main difference lies in their prefixes, which modify the meaning of the base verb.
Table 1.3 provides a clear example using the verb stellen (to put) and its inseparable variant bestellen (to order):
| Pronouns | 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 |
The verb “stellen” in German means “to put” or “to place” in English. For example:
🇩🇪 Ich stelle das Buch ins Regal.
🇺🇸 I put the book on the shelf.
When you add the prefix “be-“ to stellen, it transforms into “bestellen”, meaning “to order”. This changes the action, as shown in the example:
🇩🇪 Ich bestelle das Buch online.
🇺🇸 I order the book online.
The prefix “be-“ changes the focus from physically placing an item to ordering or requesting it.
Here are more examples with different verbs:
🇩🇪 Ich verstehe die Aufgabe nicht.
🇺🇸 I don’t understand the task.
🇩🇪 Er beschreibt das Bild.
🇺🇸 He describes the picture.
🇩🇪 Sie entdeckt einen neuen Ort.
🇺🇸 She discovers a new place.
🇩🇪 Das Kind zerbricht die Vase.
🇺🇸 The child breaks the vase.
🇩🇪 Sie bestellt einen Kaffee.
🇺🇸 She orders a coffee.
Separable Prefix Verbs in German
In German, separable prefix verbs, as the name suggests, have the unique characteristic of splitting up. Specifically, under certain conditions, their prefixes detach from the base verb. These verbs hold a significant place in everyday German communication, and the stress in their pronunciation always falls on the prefix.
There are numerous separable prefixes in German. Some of the most commonly used ones are presented in Table 1.4:
| ab-, an-, auf-, aus-, ein-, los-, mit-, vor-, weg-, weiter- |
In the German language, there are numerous verbs that utilize separable prefixes. A selection of these, showcasing their versatility and function, is presented 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 |
When conjugating separable verbs, there is a specific pattern to follow:
- Detach the prefix from the verb.
- Conjugate the root verb as you would with any standard verb.
- Place the separated prefix at the end of the clause or sentence.
A demonstration of how these verbs conjugate can be seen in Table 1.6.
| Pronouns | 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 are we doing now?
🇩🇪 Ich mache das Fenster auf.
🇺🇸 I’m opening the window.
In the first instance, “machen” is used in a general context asking about an action without a specific direction or object. On the other hand, in the second instance, the verb “machen” combines with the separable prefix “auf” to specify the action of opening, particularly referring to the window.
🇩🇪 Ich schalte das Licht aus.
🇺🇸 I turn off the light.
🇩🇪 Er ruft mich später an.
🇺🇸 He will call me later.
🇩🇪 Sie zieht ihren Mantel an.
🇺🇸 She puts on her coat.
🇩🇪 Er bringt das Buch zurück.
🇺🇸 He brings back the book.
🇩🇪 Wann kommt der Schulbus an?
🇺🇸 When does the school bus arrive?
🇩🇪 Ich wache um 05:00 Uhr auf.
🇺🇸 I wake up at 5:00 a.m.