Separable verbs (preview)
Present main clause
In a present-tense main clause, a separable verb splits: the conjugated verb stem takes the second position (or the first in a yes/no question), and the prefix moves to the very end of the sentence. This is because German main clauses follow the verb-second (V2) rule and the sentence bracket (Satzklammer): the finite verb opens the bracket, and the prefix closes it, with all other elements in between. For example, Ich rufe dich an – here rufe is in position 2, and an is at the end. The prefix is not an independent word; it is part of the verb's meaning, so it must stay with the verb as a unit, even when separated.
- Ich rufe dich später an. (I will call you later.)
- Steh bitte auf! (Please get up!)
Infinitive / subclause
When a separable verb appears as an infinitive (e.g., after a modal verb) or in a subordinate clause (e.g., with weil, dass), it stays together as one word. In these structures, the finite verb is not in the second position of a main clause, so there is no need to split. In a subordinate clause, the finite verb goes to the end, and the prefix remains attached; in an infinitive construction, the infinitive stands at the end, also with the prefix attached. For example, Ich möchte dich anrufen and Ich weiß, dass er heute ankommt. The split only occurs when the verb is the finite verb in a main clause.
- Kannst du mich anrufen? (Can you call me?)
- Ich weiß, dass er heute ankommt. (I know that he arrives today.)
Core list
Here are some very common separable verbs. Learn the verb and its particle as a single meaning unit, because the particle often changes the meaning drastically.
- mitkommen (to come along) – Kommst du mit?
- einsteigen (to get in/board) – Steigen Sie bitte ein!
- aussteigen (to get out/alight) – Ich steige an der nächsten Haltestelle aus.
- aufhören (to stop) – Hör bitte mit dem Lärm auf!
Practice
Conjugate fernsehen and mitbringen for ich / du / wir in a main clause.
Fernsehen (to watch TV):
- ich sehe fern – Ich sehe heute Abend fern.
- du siehst fern – Du siehst zu viel fern.
- wir sehen fern – Wir sehen gern fern.
Mitbringen (to bring along):
- ich bringe mit – Ich bringe Kuchen mit.
- du bringst mit – Du bringst deinen Freund mit.
- wir bringen mit – Wir bringen Getränke mit.
Practical Examples
- Ich rufe dich später an. – I will call you later. (The prefix an goes to the end, even with a time adverb.)
- Wir stehen jeden Morgen um sieben Uhr auf. – We get up every morning at seven o'clock. (The time expression comes before the prefix.)
- Kaufst du heute im Supermarkt ein? – Are you shopping at the supermarket today? (In a yes/no question, the verb is first, the prefix at the end.)
- Er sieht abends oft fern. – He often watches TV in the evenings. (Frequency adverbs come before the prefix.)
- Kommst du mit ins Kino mit? – Are you coming along to the cinema? (Here mit appears twice: once as a preposition, once as a prefix.)
- Bitte mach das Fenster zu! – Please close the window! (In commands, the prefix still goes to the end.)
- Der Zug kommt pünktlich an. – The train arrives on time. (The adverb pünktlich goes before the prefix.)
- Ich hole dich um acht Uhr ab. – I will pick you up at eight o'clock. (The time phrase comes before the prefix.)
- Wir gehen heute Abend nicht aus. – We are not going out tonight. (The negation nicht comes directly before the prefix.)
- Kannst du das Formular bitte ausfüllen? – Can you please fill out the form? (With a modal verb, the separable verb stays together at the end.)
- Meine Schwester stellt ihren neuen Freund vor. – My sister is introducing her new boyfriend. (The direct object comes before the prefix.)
- Wann stehst du normalerweise auf? – When do you usually get up? (In a W-question, the prefix goes to the end.)
- Er macht die Tür auf. – He opens the door. (Aufmachen is the opposite of zumachen.)
- Ich kaufe heute Abend nicht ein. – I am not shopping tonight. (The negation comes before the prefix.)
- Sie kommt nächste Woche zurück. – She is coming back next week. (The time expression comes before the prefix.)