Trennbare und untrennbare Verben — Separable and inseparable verbs
📺 Instructional Video
An instructional video explaining this grammar topic with practical examples.
🎯 Lesson Goals
- Distinguish between separable prefixes and inseparable verbs.
- Apply the rule in present, perfect and other tenses.
- Avoid common pitfalls when forming sentences.
📚 Core Rule
Separable verbs (Trennbare Verben) have a prefix that splits off from the verb stem in the finite verb position (present tense, imperative, past tense with sein/haben in perfect). The prefix moves to the end of the clause.
Inseparable verbs (Untrennbare Verben) keep their prefix attached to the stem in all tenses; the verb behaves as a single word.
Examples
Common Prefixes (Separable)
| Prefix | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ab- | abfahren | to depart |
| an- | anrufen | to call |
| auf- | aufstehen | to stand up |
| aus- | ausgehen | to go out |
Common Inseparable Prefixes
| Prefix | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ver- | verstehen | to understand |
| be- | bekommen | to receive |
| er- | erklären | to explain |
| ge- | gebären | to give birth |
✅ Example Sentences
| German sentence | Arabic translation |
|---|---|
| Ich rufe dich an. | أنا أتصل بك. |
| Er steht früh auf. | هو ينهض مبكرًا. |
| Wir verstehen das Problem nicht. | نحن لا نفهم المشكلة. |
| Sie bekommt ein Geschenk. | هي تحصل على هدية. |
📝 Exercises
✏️ Fill in the blank with the correct word: Write only one word in each field.
| # | Sentence (fill in the verb) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Ich ___ dich ___? (rufen) |
| 2 | Er ___ früh ___. (aufstehen) |
| 3 | Wir ___ das Problem nicht. (verstehen) |
| 4 | Sie ___ ein Geschenk. (bekommen) |
📖 Related Lessons
🔤 Lektion 3: In unserer Freizeit — In Our Free Time
🔤 Exercises Lektion 3: In unserer Freizeit (In Our Free Time)
🟡 Tips for Learners
- Do not split verbs that start with inseparable prefixes such as ver-, be-, er-.
- In the perfect tense with separable verbs, the prefix stays attached to the past participle and the haben/sein auxiliary comes before it (e.g., Ich habe angerufen).
- Keep a list of the most common separable prefixes (an-, auf-, aus-, ein-, mit-, nach-, vor-, zu-) to quickly recognise them.