Language/German/Grammar/Separable-Verbs

German Grammar → Verbs and Conjugation → Separable Verbs

As a German language teacher, I often find that students struggle with separable verbs in German. These verbs are unique to the German language and require a bit of extra attention when learning how to use them correctly. In this lesson, we will explore separable verbs and learn how to use them in appropriate sentences.

After mastering this lesson, these related pages might interest you: Two Way Prepositions & Possessive Pronouns.

What are Separable Verbs?

In German, separable verbs are made up of two parts: a prefix and a verb stem. The prefix is separated from the verb stem when the verb is conjugated. The prefix can also change the meaning of the verb entirely. Let's look at an example:

• "anrufen" = "to call" (e.g. on the phone)
• "rufen" = "to call" (e.g. out for someone)

In the example above, the prefix "an-" changes the meaning of the verb entirely. When the verb is conjugated, the prefix is separated from the verb stem like this:

• "Ich rufe meine Mutter an." = "I am calling my mother."
• "Ich rufe laut nach dir." = "I am calling out for you."

As you can see, the prefix "an-" is separated from the verb stem "rufe" in both sentences.

How to Use Separable Verbs

Here are some tips for using separable verbs correctly:

• When conjugating a separable verb in the present tense, the prefix is separated from the verb stem and placed at the end of the sentence clause.
• In the past tense, the prefix is placed at the end of the sentence.
• When using a separable verb in a subordinate clause, the prefix is not separated from the verb stem.

Let's look at an example using the verb "abfahren" which means "to depart":

German	Pronunciation	English
Ich fahre am Montag ab.	[ɪç ˈfaːʁə am ˈmontaːk ap]	I am leaving on Monday.
Wir gehen heute Abend aus.	[vɪʁ ˈɡeːən ˈhɔʏtə ˈʔaʊs]	We are going out tonight.
Sie sieht sich das Bild an.	[ziː zeːt zɪç das bɪlt an]	She is looking at the picture.
Ich habe gestern mit ihm telefoniert.	[ɪç ˈhaːbə ˈɡɛstɐn mɪt hɪm telefɔˈniːɐ̯t]	I spoke on the phone with him yesterday.

Note how in the first two examples, the prefix is separated from the verb stem and placed at the end of the sentence, while in the third example, the verb is used in a subordinate clause and the prefix is not separated.

Common Separable Verbs

Here are some common separable verbs in German:

• "anfangen" = "to start"
• "anhören" = "to listen to"
• "aufstehen" = "to get up"
• "einkaufen" = "to shop"
• "einsteigen" = "to board"
• "fernsehen" = "to watch TV"
• "mitbringen" = "to bring along"
• "weggehen" = "to go away"

Tips for Learning Separable Verbs

Learning separable verbs can be tricky, but here are some tips to make the process easier:

• Memorize common separable verbs and practice using them in sentences.
• Pay attention to the prefixes and how they change the meaning of the verb.
• Practice using separable verbs in different tenses and sentence structures.

Conclusion

In conclusion, learning separable verbs is an important part of mastering the German language. By understanding how to use them and memorizing common separable verbs, you will be able to communicate more effectively in German. Good luck!

Sources

• Separable and Inseparable Verbs in German Grammar
• German Separable Verbs: United They Stand, Divided They… Also ...
• Separable verbs - Present tense - GCSE German Revision - BBC ...

Great work on completing this lesson! Take a moment to investigate these connected pages: Using Prepositions & 0 to A1 Course.

Table of Contents - German Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Basic Sentence Structures

• Subject and Verb
• Noun and Gender

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Greetings and Introduction

• Greetings and Goodbyes
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Definite and Indefinite Articles

• Gender and Articles
• Plural Forms
• Cases: Nominative and Accusative

  ---

Numbers, Dates and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Days of the Week and Months
• Telling Time

  ---

Verbs and Conjugation

• Verb Forms
• Present Tense
• Separable Verbs

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Family and Friends

• Family Members
• Talking About Your Friends

  ---

Prepositions

• Using Prepositions
• Two-Way Prepositions

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Food and Drinks

• Food and Meals
• Drinks and Beverages

  ---

Germany and German-Speaking Countries

• Geography and Landmarks
• Cuisine and Traditions

  ---

Pronouns and Possessives

• Personal Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns

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Travel and Transportation

• Booking a Trip
• Public Transportation

  ---

Modal Verbs

• Expressing Abilities
• Talking About Obligations

  ---

Shopping and Clothes

• Shopping for Clothes
• Buying Groceries

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Music and Entertainment

• Popular Musicians and Genres
• Movies, TV and Literature

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Adjectives

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Comparative and Superlative Forms

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Health and Body

• Talking About Health
• Body Parts

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Time and Temporal Prepositions

• Using Time Expressions
• Temporal Prepositions

Other Lessons

• How to Use Be
• Comparative and Superlative Forms
• Simple negative sentences
• Past Tense
• Verb Forms
• Pronouns in German
• How to Use Have
• Present Tense
• Adjectives