German conjugation explanation

Separable verb prefixes

<p>German verb prefixes are classified as either separable or

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/german_inseperable_prefixes/" target="_blank">inseparable</a>

<p>Common separable prefixes include: <strong>ab-, an-, auf-, aus-, bei-, dar-, ein-, fort-, heim-, her-, hin-, los-, mit-, nach-, nieder-, ob-, vor-, weg-, zu-, zurück-</strong> and <strong>zusammen-</strong>.</p>

<p>When spoken, the <strong>stress falls on the prefix</strong> (e.g., <span style="font-style: italic;"><strong>an</strong>rufen</span>), unlike inseparable verbs where the stress falls on the stem.</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">1. In Main Clauses (Present and Imperfect)</div>

<p>When a separable verb is the conjugated verb in a <strong>main clause</strong> (in

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/48/" target="_blank">Present</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/49/" target="_blank">Imperfect</a>

<p>Consider the verb

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ger/anrufen/" title="Click to see conjugations for anrufen" target="_blank">anrufen</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/48/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Präsens</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

ich

</span>rufe an

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

du

</span>rufst an

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

er

</span>ruft an

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

wir

</span>rufen an

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

ihr

</span>ruft an

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

sie

</span>rufen an

</span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ich <span class="green_emphasis">rufe</span> dich später <span class="green_emphasis">an</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I will call you later.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Wir <span class="green_emphasis">fangen</span> jetzt <span class="green_emphasis">an</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">We are starting now.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Sie <span class="green_emphasis">hören</span> nicht <span class="green_emphasis">auf</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">They are not stopping.</span>)</div>

<p>The prefix marks the absolute end of the clause. It is followed only by:</p>

<ul>

<li>

<div>A <strong>punctuation mark</strong> (period, question mark, or comma):</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Wie <span class="green_emphasis">spricht</span> man das <span class="green_emphasis">aus</span><span class="in_word_highlight">?</span> (<span style="font-style: italic;">How do you pronounce that?</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Kommst</span> du <span class="green_emphasis">mit</span><span class="in_word_highlight">,</span> oder bleibst du hier? (<span style="font-style: italic;">Are you coming along, or are you staying here?</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>The conjunctions <strong style="font-style: italic">und</strong> or <strong style="font-style: italic">oder</strong> (connecting to a new clause):</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Er <span class="green_emphasis">kommt</span> in das Zimmer <span class="green_emphasis">rein</span> <span class="in_word_highlight">und</span> macht das Licht an. (<span style="font-style: italic;">He comes into the room and turns on the light.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>A <strong>"zu + infinitive"</strong> phrase:</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Sie <span class="green_emphasis">fängt</span> <span class="green_emphasis">an</span> <span class="in_word_highlight">zu weinen</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">She starts to cry.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">2. In Dependent (Subordinate) Clauses</div>

<p>When used in a dependent clause (introduced by words like <span style="font-style: italic;">dass, weil, wenn, ob</span>), the verb moves to the end of the sentence. In this position, the <strong>prefix remains attached</strong> to the verb. It does not separate.</p>

<p>See also:

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/german_dependent_clause_prefixes/" target="_blank">Prefixes in dependent clauses</a>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ich will nicht, dass du so früh <span class="green_emphasis">aufstehst</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I don't want you to get up so early.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Warte bitte, bis ich <span class="green_emphasis">zurückkomme</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Please wait until I come back.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Es ist mir egal, was du morgen <span class="green_emphasis">vorhast</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I don't care what you're planning for tomorrow.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">3. Past Participle (Partizip II)</div>

<p>For

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/german_past_participle_formation/" target="_blank">past participle formation</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/52/" target="_blank">Perfect</a>

<p style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;">prefix + <strong>ge</strong> + stem + (e)t/en</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Der Zug ist pünktlich <span class="green_emphasis">an<span class="in_word_highlight">ge</span>kommen</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">The train arrived on time.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Haben Sie darüber <span class="green_emphasis">nach<span class="in_word_highlight">ge</span>dacht</span>? (<span style="font-style: italic;">Have you thought about it?</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Der Hund ist <span class="green_emphasis">auf<span class="in_word_highlight">ge</span>wacht</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">The dog woke up.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">4. Infinitive with "zu"</div>

<p>In the "zu + infinitive" structure, the word <span style="font-style: italic;">zu</span> is inserted between the prefix and the verb. It is written as one single word.</p>

<p style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;">prefix + <strong>zu</strong> + infinitive</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Vergiss nicht, den Schlüssel <span class="green_emphasis">mit<span class="in_word_highlight">zu</span>nehmen</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Don't forget to take the key with you.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Es ist schwer, jetzt noch <span class="green_emphasis">an<span class="in_word_highlight">zu</span>fangen</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">It is hard to start now.</span>)</div>