A1 Grammar · Unit 9 · Topic 19 of 30

Separable Verbs

About 3 minutes · tables, common mistakes and practice with answers

In short

Some verbs split into two parts: the prefix goes to the end of the sentence and the main verb stays in second position. It looks strange at first but becomes automatic with practice.

Separable verbs

German separable verbs: the prefix moves to the end of the sentence

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Verbs like anrufen and aufstehen split in a normal sentence. The main part goes in position 2 and the little prefix jumps to the very end, so the two parts hold the sentence like a bracket. In the dictionary they appear joined together.

हिंदी में समझें

anrufen, aufstehen जैसे verbs सामान्य वाक्य में टूट जाते हैं। मुख्य हिस्सा दूसरे नंबर पर और छोटा हिस्सा (an, auf, ein) बिल्कुल आख़िर में जाता है, जैसे दोनों ने वाक्य को कोष्ठक की तरह पकड़ रखा हो। शब्दकोश में ये जुड़े हुए मिलते हैं।

Many everyday verbs split into two parts: a prefix (auf-, ein-, an-, fern-, ab-) and a main verb (stehen, kaufen, rufen). In the infinitive, they're together: aufstehen. In a sentence, the verb splits. The main verb stays in position 2 and is conjugated. The prefix goes to the very end.

InfinitiveIn a sentence
aufstehenIch stehe um sieben auf.
einkaufenWir kaufen heute Gemüse ein.
anrufenEr ruft mich an.

Same pattern: mitkommen, zurückkommen, anziehen.

Common Mistakes in Separable Verbs

Don't say "Ich aufstehe um sieben." Split it: Ich stehe um sieben auf. And the prefix goes to the end, not right after the verb.

Memory trick

The verb throws away its prefix to the end of the sentence like a suitcase. The sentence is a bracket: verb ... prefix.

Practice

Split the verb into the sentence.

  1. aufstehen: Ich ___ früh ___.
  2. einkaufen: Wir ___ heute Gemüse ___.
  3. anrufen: Er ___ mich ___.
Show answers

Answers: stehe / auf, kaufen / ein, ruft / an.

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