Seperable verbs
Separable and Inseparable Prefixes
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.
Auf stehen – to get up
Hans steht jeden Tag um 9.00 Uhr auf. Hans gets up every day at 9:00.
Hans muss jeden Tag um 9.00 Uhr a3ufstehen. Hans has to get up every day at 9:00.
Ich komme aus.
Aus kommen -
Jeden - every
2 verb - 1st verb second place , 2nd verb last place.
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 ab holen = to pick up holen – to get
ab nehmen = to take off nehmen – to take
an = at, on anfangen = to start, begin
anrufen = to call, telephone rufen – to shout
anziehen = to put on, dress
auf = up aufhören = to stop horen – to hear
aufräumen = to clean up
aufstehen = to get up, stand up stehen – to stand
, aus = out ausgehen = to go out gehen – to go
aussehen = to look, appear sehen – to see
ein = in, into einkaufen = to shop
einschlafen = to fall asleep
fern = far fernsehen = to watch TV
fort = away fortgehen = to leave, go away gehen – to go
her = ‘hither’, to here herholen = to fetch
herkommen = to come from
hin = ‘thither’, to there hinstellen = to place, put
mit = with, along mitbringen = to bring along
mitkommen = to come along
mitnehmen = to take along
nach = after nachdenken = to think, reflect denken – to think
nachfragen = to inquire, ask after fragen – to question
um = around, at umsehen = to look around
vor = before vorhaben = to have planned
vorstellen = to introduce
Separable and Inseparable Prefixes
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.
Auf stehen – to get up
Hans steht jeden Tag um 9.00 Uhr auf. Hans gets up every day at 9:00.
Hans muss jeden Tag um 9.00 Uhr a3ufstehen. Hans has to get up every day at 9:00.
Ich komme aus.
Aus kommen -
Jeden - every
2 verb - 1st verb second place , 2nd verb last place.
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 ab holen = to pick up holen – to get
ab nehmen = to take off nehmen – to take
an = at, on anfangen = to start, begin
anrufen = to call, telephone rufen – to shout
anziehen = to put on, dress
auf = up aufhören = to stop horen – to hear
aufräumen = to clean up
aufstehen = to get up, stand up stehen – to stand
, aus = out ausgehen = to go out gehen – to go
aussehen = to look, appear sehen – to see
ein = in, into einkaufen = to shop
einschlafen = to fall asleep
fern = far fernsehen = to watch TV
fort = away fortgehen = to leave, go away gehen – to go
her = ‘hither’, to here herholen = to fetch
herkommen = to come from
hin = ‘thither’, to there hinstellen = to place, put
mit = with, along mitbringen = to bring along
mitkommen = to come along
mitnehmen = to take along
nach = after nachdenken = to think, reflect denken – to think
nachfragen = to inquire, ask after fragen – to question
um = around, at umsehen = to look around
vor = before vorhaben = to have planned
vorstellen = to introduce
