The participle forms of verbs can be used to build the conversational past, the past perfect and the subjunctive mood. They can also be used as adjectives.
Forming the participle of inseparable prefix verbs
Verbs with inseparable prefixes do not use the ge- prefix to form the participle.
Otherwise, the participle of inseparable prefix verbs is formed based on how the original verb was formed. If the original verb was
regular, the participle of the inseparable prefix verb will also take the -t suffix.
irregular, the participle of the inseparable prefix verb will also be irregular (most often includes a stem-vowel change and definitely no -t suffix).
infinitive (basic verb)
participle
infinitive (separable prefix verb)
participle
irregular verbs
fallen (fall)
=>
gefallen
==>
zerfallen (fall apart)
=>
zerfallen
kommen (come)
=>
gekommen
==>
bekommen (receive)
=>
bekommen
regular verbs
warten (wait)
=>
gewartet
==>
erwarten (expect)
=>
erwartet
suchen (look for)
=>
gesucht
==>
versuchen (try)
=>
versucht
Haben vs. sein
Some sineparable prefix verbs take haben as the auxiliary verb (e.g., beginnen => hat begonnen), some take sein (e.g., zerfallen => ist zerfallen). The choice of auxiliary verb, just like with all other verbs, depends on the meaning of the word.
I. Verbs, including ones that have an inseparable prefix, that indicate
a movement (e.g., gehen, fahren, fliegen, kommen),
a change in state or feeling (e.g., sterben, werden), OR
indicate a state of being (e.g., bleiben, sein)
... use sein as the auxiliary verb to form the conversational past.
II. Inseparable prefix verbs that (can) have a direct object OR that do not denote an action that results in a change of state or being use haben as the auxiliary verb to form the conversational past.
Die Prinzessin ist zum Brunnen gekommen.
The princess came to the well.
Aber ihr Weltbild ist bald zerfallen!
But her world soon fell apart!
Ihr Ball ist in den Brunnen hineingefallen.
Her ball fell into the well.
Sie hat erwartet, dass der Froschkönig ihr den Ball zurückgibt.
She expected that the frog king would give her ball back to her.
Der Froschkönig hat versucht, ihren Ball gegen einen Kuss auszutauschen.
The frog prince tried to exchange her ball for a kiss.
Er hat auch einen bekommen, aber die Prinzessin hatte nachher monatelang schreckliche Alpträume gehabt!!
And he got one too, but the princess had terrible nightmares for months afterwards!
Here are some key participle forms you should learn:
agree on (e.g., a date, appointment) commit a crime spend (time) earn forgive forget enjoy leave, abandon harm, injure lose waste (money, time, resources) disappear be late understand try, attempt
hat sich verabredet hat verbrochen hat verbracht hat verdient hat vergeben hat vergessen hat sich vergnügt hat verlassen hat verletzt hat verloren hat verschwendet ist verschwunden hat sich verspätet hat verstanden hat versucht