Verbs:Präsens - Trennbare Verben
One facet of verbs is that they can be preceded by prefixes, small units of language that somehow modify or enhance the meaning of basic verbs. Although there are some patterns as to how these prefixes affect the verbs' meaning, for the most part you just need to learn the individual verbs.
Die sieben Zwerge sehen im Wohnzimmer fern. | The seven dwarves are watching TV in the living room. |
Chef spielt ihnen Disneys 'Snow White' vor. | Doc is playing them Disney's Snow White. |
Er lädt natürlich auch Schneewittchen ein. | He invites Snow White as well, of course. |
Sie bringt frische Kekse und Kräutertee mit. | She brings fresh cookies and herbal tea (to the party). |
Als Schneewittchen im Film in den Apfel beißt, fängt Brummbär an, laut zu weinen, und läuft schnell weg ... Er kann diese Szene gar nicht ausstehen! | As Snow White bites into the apple in the film, Grumpy starts to cry loudly and runs away ... He can't stand this scene! |
Schneewittchen läuft ihm nach, und sie gehen lieber in den schönen Wäldern im Harzgebirge spazieren. | Snow White runs after him, and they go for a walk in the beautiful forests in the Harz mountains instead. |
I. Prepositions as separable prefixes
Most prepositions can be made into separable prefixes, and most separable prefixes are originally prepositions. These prefixes change the new verb's meaning in a way that is often related to the original meaning of the preposition. Here are some examples for the most common separable prefixes:
preposition/prefix (general meaning) |
example | english |
AB- (away) | abfahren absagen |
depart cancel |
AN- (towards) | ankommen anfangen |
arrive begin |
AUF- (up, on) | aufstehen aufhören |
wake up stop |
AUS- (out, also suggests completion) | aussteigen ausstehen |
get out (of a bus) stand somebody |
EIN- (in) | einsteigen einladen |
get in (a bus, train) invite |
LOS- (indicates beginning something) | losgehen losbrechen |
get started break loose/escape (break out) |
MIT- (with, along) | mitbringen mitkommen |
bring along come with, come along |
NACH- (after, follow) | nachholen nachlaufen |
make up (work, homework) run after someone (literally) |
VOR- (before, ahead, forward) | vorlesen vorspielen |
read out loud play (e.g., a film) |
WEG- (away) | wegwerfen weglaufen |
throw away run away |
II. Other common separable prefix verbs
fernsehen - watch TV | spazierengehen - go for a walk |
Rad fahren - ride a bicycle | schwarzarbeiten - work illegally |
teilnehmen - participate | schwarzfahren - ride (e.g., a train) without a ticket |
kennenlernen - get to know | achtgeben - pay attention |
III. Word order and separable prefixes
A. Declarative sentences
The separable prefixes affect word order in basic sentences; they also have slightly different participle forms.
The typical word order in basic German (declarative) sentences is SUBJECT-VERB-VERBAL COMPLEMENTS. While this order stays the same for the most part, the separable prefix of the separable prefix verb goes to the very end of the declarative sentence.
parts of the sentence | subject | verb | other items that complete the verb (e.g., direct object) | separable prefix |
declarative sentence | Chef | spielt | Tennis. | |
declarative sentence with a separable prefix verb | Chef | spielt | den Film | vor. |
B. Questions
Separable prefix verbs affect the word order in questions as well:
parts of the sentence | subject/question word | verb | verbal complements/subject | separable prefix |
declarative sentence | Chef | spielt | den Film | vor. |
Who? | Wer | spielt | den Film | vor? |
What? | Was | spielt | Chef | vor? |
C. With modal verbs
Modal verbs affect the word order of sentences with separable prefix verbs, too:
parts of the sentence | subject | primary verb | verbal complements/subject | separable prefix/infinitive |
declarative sentence | Chef | spielt | den Film | vor. |
modal verb: wollen | Chef | will | den Film | vorspielen. |
question with modal verb | Was | will | Chef | vorspielen? |
D. With subordinating conjunctions
Finally, separable prefix verbs move around when different phrases are connected by subordinating conjunctions (and also by relative pronouns).
subordinating conjunction | subject/question word | verb | verbal complements/subject | separable prefix |
Chef | spielt | den Film | vor. | |
Chef | lädt | Schneewittchen | ein. | |
Bevor (before) | Chef | -- | den Film | vorspielt, lädt er Schneewittchen ein. |
Nachdem (after) | Chef | -- | Schneewittchen | einlädt, spielt er den Film vor. |
Brummbär | Ich möchte diesen Film wegwerfen!!! Ich will ihn nie wieder anschauen! | I would like to throw away this film!!! I never want to watch it again! |
Schneewittchen | Nachdem du die DVD wegwirfst, lesen wir dein neues Drehbuch für diese Geschichte! | After you throw away the DVD, let's read your new screen play for this story! |
Brummbär | Ahm ... Es ist noch nicht fertig. Und weiterhin ist es ein bisschen kitschig ... Ahm ... Die Hexe kann dich natürlich nicht umbringen, und ich bin der Held, und obwohl du den Prinzen kennenlernst, heiratest du mich ... Hmmm ... | Ahem ... It's not finished yet. And furthermore, it's also a bit kitschy... Ahem ... The witch of course can't kill you, and I am the hero, and although you meet the prince, you marry me ... Hmmm ... |
Schneewittchen | Mein lieber Brummbär, du bist echt süß! Aber du solltest deine Karriere nicht aufgeben! | My dear Grumpy, you are really sweet! But you should not give up your (day)job! |
Below are some of the most commonly used separable prefix verbs with English equivalents. The first column offers some general meanings associated with the prefixes, but these are only tendencies, not set rules.
preposition/prefix (general meaning) | example | english |
AB- (away) | abbrennen abgeben abkürzen abnehmen abschließen abtreiben |
burn down turn in (homework), hand over (ticket) shorten lose weight finish, complete abort |
AN- (towards) | anerkennen andeuten angeben anklagen ankleiden anschauen anstellen anweisen anwenden |
recognize hint at, suggest brag, show off accuse dress watch hire, employ instruct use |
AUF- (up, on) |
aufatmen aufbleiben aufführen aufklären auflockern aufnehmen aufräumen aufschlagen aufwachsen |
breathe a sigh of relief stay up (person), stay open (store) perform (e.g., theater play) inform, enlighten, clear up liven up (a party, person) take a picture of (incl. video images) tidy/clean up (e.g., room) open (eyes, book) grow up |
AUS- (out, also suggests completion) | ausbilden ausbrechen ausdrucken ausdrücken ausflippen ausgeben ausgehen auslachen ausmachen ausnutzen ausschließen aussprechen aussterben austauschen |
educate, train break out print (e.g., text, picture) express freak out (flip out) publish, hand out go out, date laugh at (someone) turn off (light), put out (fire) take advantage of (person, opportunity) lock out, exclude pronounce die out, go extinct exchange |
EIN- (in) | einbrechen einfallen (es ist mir eingefallen) einführen einkaufen einleben (sich) einnehmen einrichten einschätzen einschlafen einschüchtern einwerfen einziehen |
break in (horse, into house) occur (to someone), come to mind introduce (a topic) go shopping, buy get used to earn, make money furnish (apartment), arrange (furniture) judge, guess (e.g., at size, value) fall asleep intimidate, bully throw in (e.g., remark, towel) move in (e.g., into a new apartment) |
LOS- (beginning something) | losfahren loswerden |
get going, leave get rid of, spend, lose |
MIT- (with, along) | mitbekommen mitfahren mitfühlen mitmachen mitnehmen mitspielen mitteilen |
get out (of a lecture), understand ride along sympathize participate, do something w/someone take along play along (in a sport) inform, share knowledge |
NACH- (after, follow) | nachahmen nachdenken (ich möchte darüber ~) nacherzählen nachfolgen nachgeben nachprüfen nachschlagen nachtun nachzählen |
imitate think about (I'd like to think about that) retell, relate (a story) follow, succeed (e.g., a king) give in (e.g., to pressure) double check (e.g., essay, homework) look up (e.g., a word in a dictionary) follow somebody's example re-count (double check numbers) |
VOR- (before, ahead, forward) | vorbereiten vorbestellen vorhaben vorkommen vornehmen vorstellen vortragen |
prepare order in advance (e.g., books) plan, have in mind come up, happen carry out a task introduce, imagine perform (play), give lecture/opinion |
WEG- (away) | wegbleiben wegbringen weggehen wegnehmen wegräumen wegtreten wegziehen |
stay away take/bring away go away take away clear away (e.g., mess) step away pull away |