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.
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
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)
get out (of a lecture), understand ride along sympathize participate, do something w/someone take along play along (in a sport) inform, share knowledge
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)