German Separable Verbs (Trennbare Verben)

German Grammar

German Separable Verbs

German separable verbs (trennbare Verben) consist of a prefix and a base verb. In main clauses, the prefix separates from the verb and moves to the end of the clause. The verb meaning changes based on the prefix used. Separable verbs split into two parts in the present and simple past tenses.

Example:

• Ich stehe um 7 Uhr auf. (I get up at 7 o'clock.)

Identifying Separable Verbs

These prefixes are always separable and modify the base verb's meaning. Learning their meanings helps you understand new verbs:

Prefix	General Meaning	Example Verb	Translation
ab-	away, off	abfahren	to depart
an-	on, at, to	ankommen	to arrive
auf-	up, open	aufmachen	to open
aus-	out, off	ausgehen	to go out
ein-	in, into	einladen	to invite
mit-	with, along	mitkommen	to come along
vor-	before, forward	vorstellen	to introduce
zu-	to, closed	zumachen	to close
zurück-	back	zurückkommen	to come back

Another key indicator that a verb is separable is, if the prefix is stressed when spoken. If the verb stem is stressed, it's inseparable. Dictionaries mark separable verbs with a dot or line: auf·stehen or auf|stehen.

Formation:

• auf + stehen = aufstehen (to get up)
• an + rufen = anrufen (to call)
• mit + bringen = mitbringen (to bring along)

Word Order Rules

The position of the prefix depends on the clause type and tense. In main clauses with present or simple past, the prefix separates.

→ Learn more about Simple Past

→ Learn more about Present

Main Clauses

The verb stays in position 2, while the prefix moves to the end:

Example

• Ich rufe meine Mutter an. (I call my mother.)
• Der Zug kommt um 15 Uhr an. (The train arrives at 3 PM.)

→ Learn more about German Sentence Structure

Subordinate Clauses

In subordinate clauses, the prefix and verb stay together as one word at the end:

Example

• Ich bin müde, weil ich früh aufstehe. (I'm tired because I get up early.)
• Sie weiß, dass der Bus bald abfährt. (She knows that the bus departs soon.)

Questions

In questions, just like in main clauses, the prefix goes to the end:

Example

• Wann stehst du auf? (When do you get up?)
• Rufst du mich heute an? (Will you call me today?)

Conjugating Separable Verbs

Present Perfect (Perfekt)

In the perfect tense, ge- is inserted between the prefix and the verb stem:

Infinitive	Past Participle	Example Sentence
aufstehen	aufgestanden	Ich bin früh aufgestanden.
anrufen	angerufen	Sie hat mich angerufen.
mitbringen	mitgebracht	Er hat Kuchen mitgebracht.

→ Learn more about Perfekt

With Modal Verbs

When used with modal verbs, separable verbs remain as one word (including prefix) in the infinitive at the end:

Example

• Ich muss meinen Freund anrufen. (I must call my friend.)
• Du kannst morgen mitkommen. (You can come along tomorrow.)

→ Learn more about Modal Verbs

Infinitive with "zu"

When using the infinitive with zu, it's inserted between the prefix and verb stem:

Example

• Ich habe vergessen, dich anzurufen. (I forgot to call you.)
• Es ist Zeit, aufzustehen. (It's time to get up.)

→ Learn more about Infinitive + zu

Imperative with Separable Verbs

In the imperative, the prefix always separates from the verb stem and goes to the end:

Example

• Wach sofort auf! (Wake up immediately!)
• Hört gut zu! (Listen carefully!)

→ Learn more about Imperative

Separable vs. Inseparable Prefixes

The following prefixes never separate and are unstressed:

Prefix	Example Verb	Example Sentence	Translation
be-	bekommen	Ich bekomme ein Geschenk.	I receive a gift.
er-	erzählen	Sie erzählt eine Geschichte.	She tells a story.
ver-	verstehen	Ich verstehe die Frage.	I understand the question.
ent-	entscheiden	Wir entscheiden morgen.	We decide tomorrow.
emp-	empfehlen	Sie empfehlt mir, anrufen zu.	She misses calling.
ge-	gehen	Er geht spät auf.	He gets up late.
zer-	zerstören	Wir zerstören das Haus.	We destroy the house.

Some prefixes can be either separable OR inseparable, with different meanings:

Prefix	Type	Example	Meaning
um-	Separable	Ich fahre das Schild um.	I knock over the sign
um-	Inseparable	Ich umfahre das Schild.	I drive around the sign