Separable verbs are basic verbs with a prefix that is separated from the
conjugated part of the basic verb and appears at the end of the clause in
imperatives, e.g.
|
separable prefix |
basic verb
in the infinitive |
separable verb
in the infinitive |
imperative |
|
zu- |
machen (to make, to do) |
zumachen (to close) |
Machen Sie das Fenster
zu! (Close the window!) |
|
auf- |
stehen (to stand) |
aufstehen (to get up) |
Stehen Sie nicht
auf! (Don't get up!) |
|
an- |
fangen (to catch) |
anfangen (to begin) |
Fangen Sie bitte
an! (Please begin!) |
as well as in statements and questions in the
present tense and in the
simple past tense*, e.g.
|
separable prefix |
basic verb
in the infinitive |
separable verb
in the infinitive |
statements and questions in the present tense |
|
zu- |
machen (to make, to do) |
zumachen (to close) |
Sie
macht das Fenster
zu. (She closes the window.)
Warum
machst du das Fenster nicht
zu? (Why don't you close the
window?) |
|
auf- |
stehen (to stand) |
aufstehen (to get up) |
Sie
steht jeden Morgen um 6 Uhr
auf. (She gets up every
morning at 6 o'clock.)
Wann
stehst du am Wochenende
auf? (When
do you get up at the weekend?) |
|
an- |
fangen (to catch) |
anfangen (to begin) |
Meine Arbeit
fängt um 7 Uhr
an. (My work starts at 7
o'clock.)
Fängst du immer so früh
an? (Do you always start so
early?) |
* You
will find out more about this in section A2.
The prefix modifies the meaning of the basic verb, e.g.
|
gehen (to go): |
Er geht oft in den Park.
(He often goes to the
park.) |
ausgehen (to go out): |
Am Wochenende geht er nie aus.
(He never goes out at the
weekend.) |
The prefix can also completely change the meaning of the basic verb,
e.g.
|
machen (to
make, to do): |
Sie macht gerne
Yoga.
(She likes doing
yoga.) |
zumachen (to
close): |
Sie macht die Tϋr
zu.
(She is closing
the door.) |
Common separable prefixes
are:
|
ab- |
abholen (to fetch, to
collect, to pick up); abfahren (to depart) |
|
an- |
ankommen (to arrive);
annehmen (to accept); anfangen (to start); anrufen (to call) |
|
auf- |
aufstehen (to get up);
aufschreiben (to write down); aufgeben (to give up) |
|
aus- |
ausgehen (to go out);
ausmachen (to turn off); aussteigen (to get off); ausschlafen
(to sleep in) |
|
ein- |
einkaufen (to shop);
einladen (to invite) |
|
fern- |
fernsehen (to watch
television); fernhalten (to keep away) |
|
mit- |
mitmachen (to join in);
mitnehmen (to take something or someone with one) |
|
vor- |
vorstellen (to introduce);
vorschlagen (to suggest); vorhaben (to intend, to have planned) |
|
weg- |
wegfahren (to drive away);
weggehen (to go away) |
|
zu- |
zumachen (to close);
zuhören (to listen) |
|
zurück- |
zurückfahren (to drive
back); zurückschicken (to send back) |
|
zusammen- |
zusammenarbeiten (to work
together); zusammenfallen (to collapse) |
|