Skip to content

Separable Verbs (Trennbare Verben)

German has many verbs created by adding a prefix (like an-, auf-, ein-) to a base verb (like rufen, stehen, kaufen).

These prefixes change the verb's meaning (e.g., kaufen = to buy; einkaufen = to shop for groceries).

For separable verbs, this prefix physically separates from the verb and moves to the end of the sentence in the Present (Präsens) and Simple Past (Präteritum) tenses.

1. The "Bracket" Rule (Satzklammer)

In a main clause, the conjugated verb stem stays in Position 2, and the separable prefix moves to the very end. This forms a "sentence bracket" (Satzklammer).

  • Infinitive: anrufen (to call)

    • Ich rufe meine Mutter an. (I am calling my mother.)
    • Verb stem rufe is in P2, prefix an is at the end.

  • Infinitive: aufstehen (to get up)

    • Er steht um 7 Uhr auf. (He gets up at 7 o'clock.)

  • Infinitive: einkaufen (to shop for groceries)

    • Wir kaufen am Samstag ein. (We are shopping on Saturday.)

2. Common Separable Prefixes

These prefixes are (almost) always separable. Many are also prepositions, which makes their meaning easier to guess.

  • ab- (off, down): abfahren (to depart)
  • an- (at, on): ankommen (to arrive)
  • auf- (up, on): aufmachen (to open)
  • aus- (out): aussehen (to look, appear)
  • ein- (in, into): einladen (to invite)
  • mit- (with): mitkommen (to come with)
  • nach- (after, to): nachdenken (to think about)
  • vor- (before, forward): vorstellen (to introduce)
  • weg- (away): weggehen (to go away)
  • zu- (to, closed): zumachen (to close)
  • zurück- (back): zurückgeben (to give back)

3. How to Form Other Tenses

Perfekt (Past Tense)

In the Perfekt tense, the past participle is formed by inserting -ge- between the prefix and the stem.

  • anrufen -> an-ge-rufen
    • Ich habe meine Mutter angerufen.
  • aufstehen -> auf-ge-standen
    • Er ist um 7 Uhr aufgestanden.
  • einkaufen -> ein-ge-kauft
    • Wir haben am Samstag eingekauft.

Subordinate Clauses (V-Final)

In a subordinate clause (e.g., after weil or dass), the verb is not separated. The entire verb (prefix + stem) moves to the end together.

  • Er ist müde, weil er früh aufsteht. (He is tired because he gets up early.)
  • Ich weiß nicht, ob er ankommt. (I don't know if he is arriving.)

4. Inseparable Verbs (Untrennbare Verben)

A few prefixes are inseparable. They never detach from the verb, and their participles never take ge-.

Memorize these: be-, ge-, er-, ver-, zer-, ent-, emp-, miss-

  • verstehen (to understand)

    • Present: Ich verstehe das. (I understand that.) - ver- does not move.
    • Perfekt: Ich habe das verstanden. (I have understood that.) - No ge-.

  • besuchen (to visit)

    • Present: Sie besucht ihre Tante.
    • Perfekt: Sie hat ihre Tante besucht.