German Grammar Verb 8- Separable Prefixes

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Verbs with Separable Prefixes

Many separable prefixes are prepositions(an, auf, nach) or adverbs (zurück, heim, vorbei); others are verbs (kennen, spazieren, stehen). Occasionally,adjectives (frei, kalt, wach) and nouns (Rad, Schlittschuh) also function as separable prefixes.

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Unlike inseparable prefix verbs, separable prefix verbs always have their main stress on the prefix. they take the pastparticiple prefix ge- in addition to the separable prefix.

Hint 1

Theseparable prefixes have definite meanings, very often denoting direction.

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Following the Orthographic Reform, spazieren gehen and spazieren fahren are written as two words.On the other hand, kennenlernen can now be written either as one word (kennenlernen) or as two (kennenlernen).

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Most importantly, however, in terms of grammatical usage, all three still behave like standard separable prefix verbs.

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Position of the Separable Prefix

A separable prefix is always the final element of a sentence or main clause when the verb is in the presenttense, the simple past tense, or the imperative.

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Present Tense

Ich gehe oft aus. I often go out.Kommst du auch heim? Are you coming home too?

Geht ihr morgen mit? Are you going along tomorrow?

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Seperable Prefix Simple Past Tense

Sie ging abends spazieren.

She used to go for a walk in the evening.

Warum schaute sie es an? Why did she look at it?

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Seperable Prefix Imperative

Geh mit uns spazieren!

Go walking with us.

Kommt bald zurück!

Come back soon.

Lernen Sie Arnold kennen! Meet Arnold!

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Seperable Prefix, Infinitive

A separable prefix does not separate from the verb stem in the infinitive. However, in infinitive clauseswith zu, the zu comes between the separable prefix and the verb stem.

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Ich will anfangen.

I want to start.

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I’m not ready to start.

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Ich bin nicht bereit anzufangen.

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Seperable Prefix

Compound TensesFuture Tense

It will be together and comes at the end.

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Er wird wohl mitessen.

He will probably eat with us.

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I won’t go out.

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Ich werde nicht ausgehen.

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Seperable Prefix

Present Perfect Tense

Note that separable prefix verbs, unlike inseparable prefix verbs, take the ge- prefix in the past participleform. However, it is placed between the separable prefix and the past participle stem.

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The train has finally arrived.

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Der Zug ist endlich angekommen.

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Mother has already gone shopping.

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Mutter hat schon eingekauft.

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They have already arrived.

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Sie sind schon angekommen.

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Seperable Prefix

Past Perfect Tense

take the ge- prefix in the past participle form. similar to present perfekt

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and it is placed between the separable prefix and the past participle stem.

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I had already opened it.

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Ich hatte es schon aufgemacht.

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The supply had run out.

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Der Vorrat war ausgelaufen.

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The teacher had turned the light on.

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Der Lehrer hatte das Licht angemacht.

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Separable Prefix Verbs in Dependent Clauses

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A separable prefix is never separated from its verb when it occurs in a dependent clause. Study the following examples.

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Present:

I know that he is arriving soon.

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Present:

Ich weiß, dass er bald ankommt.

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Simple Past:

He laughed when I fell.

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Simple Past:

Er lachte, als ich hinfiel.

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Future:

She knows why I’m going along.

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Future:

Sie weiß, warum ich mitgehen werde.

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Present Perfect:

I’m happy that you came home.

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Present Perfect:

Ich freue mich, dass du heimgekommen bist.

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Past Perfect :

She knows that he had copied/cheated.

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Past Perfect:

Sie weiß, dass er abgeschrieben hatte.