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Verbs with prefixes
In German many verbs have two parts. In English, too, verbs that consist of two parts are common, especially phrasal verbs. For example, the verb to come can be found as an element in such verbs and combinations as become, overcome, come to, come up, come over, etc. In German a distinction is made between verbs that have separable prefixes and verbs that have non-seperable prefixes.
Verbs with non-separable prefixes
The most common non-seperable prefixes are be-, emp-, ent-, er-, ge-, miss-, ver-, and zer-. When the verb is pronounced, the nonseperable prefix is not stressed. Examples:
- bekommen (to get)
- besuchen (to visit)
- empfinden (to feel)
- empfehlen (to recommend)
- entgegnen (to reply)
- entstehen (to come into being)
- erzählen (to tell, to narrate)
- erklären (to explain)
- genießen (to enjoy)
- gefährden (to endanger)
- missverstehen (to misunderstand)
- misstrauen (to distrust)
- verstehen (to understand)
- versuchen (to try)
- zerpflücken (to pick apart)
- zergehen (to dissolve)
When these verbs are conjugated, they always keep their prefix in the first position. Example sentences:
- Wir besitzen ein Auto. (We own a car.)
- Er besucht uns morgen. (He will visit us tomorrow.)
- Ich empfehle dir dieses Buch. (I recommmend this book to you.)
- Entschuldigen Sie bitte die Unordnung. (Please excuse the mess.)
- Wann hast du das erfahren? (When did you find out about that?)
- Dieser Kugelschreiber gehört ihr. (This pen belongs to her.)
- Sie missbraucht ihre Privilegien. (She abuses her privileges.)
- Er verteilt die Post. (He distributes the mail.)
- Er hat den Zettel zerrissen. (He tore up the piece of paper.)
Verbs with seperable prefixes
Common separable prefixes are usually prepositions, they are ab-, an-, auf-, aus-, ein-, fest-, hin-, her-, mit-, nach-, vor-, weg-, zu- etc. When the verb is pronounced, the stress in on the seperable prefix. Examples:
- abfahren (to leave, to depart)
- ankommen (to arrive)
- aufwachen (to wake up)
- aussuchen (to pick out)
- einschlafen (to fall asleep)
- festlegen (to determine)
- hingehen (to go [there])
- herkommen (to come[here])
- mitkommen (to come along)
- nachsehen (to check)
- vorziehen (to prefer)
- weggehen (to go away)
- zustellen (to deliver)
When these verbs are conjugated, the position of the prefix changes, going to the end of the clause. Example sentences:
- Er schließt sein Auto ab. (He locks up his car.)
- Sie kündigte ihren neuen Film an. (She announced her new movie.)
- Ich bin um neun Uhr aufgestanden. (I got up at nine.)
- Er stellt seine Bilder in einer Galerie aus. (He is exhibiting his pictures in a gallery.)
- Bitte steigen Sie in den Zug ein. (Please get on the train.)
- Er nimmt seinen Rucksack mit. (He is bringing his backpack.)
- Sie schlägt jedes Wort nach. (She looks up every word.)
- Er liest seinen Kindern oft vor. (He often reads to his children.)
- Nimm mir nicht meine Zeitung weg! (Don't take my newspaper away from me!)
Advanced: Verbs featuring prefixes that can be either separable or nonseparable:
Verbs that feature the prefixes durch-, über-, um-, unter-, wider-, and wieder- can be either separable or nonseparable, depending on the verb or the context. Example sentences:
- Ich durchforsche meine alten Briefe. (I am searching through my old letters.)
- In der Schule nehmen wir interessante Themen durch. (We treat interesting topics in school.)
- Er übernimmt eine neue Aufgabe. (He is taking on a new task.)
- Er tritt zum buddhistischen Glauben über. (He is converting to the Buddhist faith.)
- Die Polizei umstellt das Haus. (Police are surrounding the house.)
- Ich stelle meine Möbel um. (I am rearranging my furniture.)
- Die Ärztin untersucht den Patienten. (The physician [lady doctor] is examining the patient.)
- Die Sonne geht im Westen unter. (The sun goes down in the West.)
- Er widerspricht sich dauernd. (He constantly contradicts himself.)
- Das Wasser spiegelt das Ufer wider.(The water reflects the riverbank.)
- Wann sehen wir uns wieder? (When will we see each other again?)
- Ich wiederhole die neuen Vokabeln. (I am reviewing the new vocabulary.)
