German Verb Prefixes (Separable & Inseparable Prefixes)
In today’s lesson, we delve into the realm of German verb prefixes. Depending on their behavior within the sentence, these prefixes can either be separable or inseparable.
Understanding German Verb Prefixes
A prefix is a linguistic element attached to the beginning of a word, transforming it into another term. In the German language, many verbs come to life by merging a basic verb with a specific prefix.
German verb prefixes predominantly 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.
Inseparable Prefixes in German Verbs
In German, certain prefixes are inseparable, meaning they always stay attached to the verb. A characteristic of these inseparable prefixes is that they are unstressed, and when forming the past participle of the verb, the prefix “ge-” is omitted.
Table 1.1 showcases the most frequently used inseparable prefixes:
| be-, emp-, ent-, er-, ge-, ver-, zer- |
Now, let’s delve deeper into how these prefixes modify the meanings of certain verbs. Consider the list 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) |
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. 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 instance:
🇩🇪 Ich stelle das Buch ins Regal.
🇺🇸 I put the book on the shelf.
Now, when you add the prefix “be-” to “stellen,” you get “bestellen,” which means “to order.” This suggests a different action, like:
🇩🇪 Ich bestelle das Buch online.
🇺🇸 I order the book online.
Notice how both verbs revolve around an item, in this case, a book. “Stellen” concerns itself with where the book is placed, while “bestellen” pertains to how the book is acquired. The prefix “be-” changes the action from physically placing an item to making a purchase or request for that item.
🇩🇪 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’s a specific pattern to follow:
- First, detach the prefix from the verb.
- Next, conjugate the root verb as you would with any standard verb.
- Finally, position the separated prefix at the close 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.