Separable Verbs in German

This section explains Separable Verbs in German. Separable verbs in German are verbs that consist of two parts: a main verb and a prefix. In a sentence, the prefix separates from the main verb and moves to the end of the sentence or clause, while the main verb remains conjugated. The prefix is often an adverbial or directional word that changes the meaning of the main verb.

Structure of Separable Verbs

The general rule for separable verbs is that the prefix is placed at the end of the sentence when the verb is conjugated. The conjugated verb (main verb) is placed in its normal position in the sentence, while the prefix moves to the end.

Word Order in Present Tense:

• Conjugated verb (main verb) + subject + prefix (at the end of the sentence).

Example with the verb “anrufen” (to call):

• Statement:
  • Ich rufe meinen Freund an.
    (I call my friend.)
    • rufe is the conjugated verb, and an (the prefix) moves to the end of the sentence.
• Question:
  • Rufst du deinen Freund an?
    (Do you call your friend?)
    • The verb rufst (conjugated form) stays in its position, and an goes to the end.

List of Common Separable Verbs

Here are some examples of common separable verbs in German:

• aufstehen (to get up)
• abholen (to pick up)
• mitkommen (to come along)
• einkaufen (to shop)
• anrufen (to call)
• zurückkommen (to come back)
• vorbereiten (to prepare)
• einladen (to invite)

Conjugation of Separable Verbs in the Present Tense

When conjugating separable verbs in the present tense, the prefix moves to the end, while the rest of the verb is conjugated according to the subject.

Example 1: "aufstehen" (to get up)

• Ich stehe um sieben Uhr auf. (I get up at seven o'clock.)
  • stehe is the conjugated verb, and auf is the prefix placed at the end.
• Du stehst immer spät auf. (You always get up late.)
  • stehst is the conjugated verb, and auf is placed at the end.

Example 2: "anrufen" (to call)

• Ich rufe meine Mutter an. (I call my mother.)
  • rufe is the conjugated verb, and an is placed at the end.
• Er ruft seine Freunde an. (He calls his friends.)
  • ruft is the conjugated verb, and an is placed at the end.

Separable Verbs in the Past Tense (Perfect Tense)

In the perfect tense, the auxiliary verb haben (to have) is used, and the past participle of the separable verb is formed by combining the prefix ge- with the main verb (which does not separate in this case). The prefix still goes to the end of the sentence.

Example 1: "aufstehen" (to get up)

• Ich bin um sieben Uhr aufgestanden. (I got up at seven o'clock.)
  • aufgestanden is the past participle, and bin is the auxiliary verb (because aufstehen is an intransitive verb).

Example 2: "abholen" (to pick up)

• Ich habe meinen Freund abgeholt. (I picked up my friend.)
  • abgeholt is the past participle, and habe is the auxiliary verb (because abholen is a transitive verb).

Foundation Tier Examples:

1. "aufstehen" (to get up)
   • Ich stehe um acht Uhr auf. (I get up at eight o'clock.)
   • Du stehst früh auf. (You get up early.)
   • Er ist um sieben Uhr aufgestanden. (He got up at seven o'clock.)
2. "anrufen" (to call)
   • Ich rufe meine Freundin an. (I call my friend.)
   • Du rufst deinen Bruder an. (You call your brother.)
   • Ich habe sie gestern angerufen. (I called her yesterday.)

Higher Tier Examples:

1. "mitkommen" (to come along)
   • Kommst du heute Abend mit? (Are you coming along tonight?)
   • Wir sind gestern ins Kino mitgekommen. (We came along to the cinema yesterday.)
2. "einladen" (to invite)
   • Ich lade meine Freunde zur Party ein. (I invite my friends to the party.)
   • Sie hat uns zum Abendessen eingeladen. (She invited us to dinner.)
3. "vorbereiten" (to prepare)
   • Ich bereite das Mittagessen vor. (I am preparing lunch.)
   • Wir haben alles für die Reise vorbereitet. (We prepared everything for the trip.)

Important Notes:

• The prefix is always separated in the present tense and moved to the end of the sentence.
• In the perfect tense, the verb stays together (the prefix is not separated) and the auxiliary verb haben is used.
• Separable verbs usually involve actions or movements like going, coming, or picking up, and are frequently used in everyday conversations.

Summary:

• Separable verbs consist of a main verb and a prefix.
• In the present tense, the prefix moves to the end of the sentence.
• In the perfect tense, the verb stays together, and the prefix does not separate.
• Common separable verbs include aufstehen, anrufen, mitkommen, and einkaufen.