Ich erkläre alles. German Inseparable Prefix Verbs

In this post we’ll learn about German inseparable prefix verbs. First, we’ll start by defining them and giving examples. Then we’ll see some examples of how these verbs are used. After that we’ll see what happens to inseparable prefix verbs when you them with modals, in past participles, and finally in zu infinitives.

Separable Prefix Verbs

Before we begin, let’s look at the other kind of prefix verbs in German. In a recent post, we took a look at separable prefix verbs in German, verbs with prefixes that separate from the main verb. Take mitgehen (to go with/along) as an example:

• Ich will mitgehen.
  I want to go along.
  mit + gehen stay together in the infinitive.
• Ich gehe mit.
  I go along.
  mit separates from the present tense
• Ich ging mit.
  I went along.
  mit separates from the simple past tense
• Ich bin mitgegangen.
  I went along.
  mit is separated from the past participle of gehen
• Ich habe vor, mitzugehen.
  I intend to go along.
  mit is separated from gehen in the zu infinitive

Inseparable Prefix Verbs

Now let’s turn to inseparable prefix verbs. There are a few common prefixes that never separate from the main verb.

• be-       
  befehlen (to command), befinden (to be located), befreunden (to befriend), bekommen (to get, to become)
• emp-    
  empfinden (to sense, to feel), empfehlen (to recommend), empfangen (to receive),
• ent-      
  entfernen (to remove), entdecken (to discover), entkleiden (to undress), entlassen (to release)
• er-        
  erklären (to explain), ertrinken (to drown), sich erinnern (to remember)
• ge-        
  gebrauchen (to use), gestehen (to confess), gehören (to belong to)
• ver-      
  verkaufen (to sell), verschlafen (to oversleep), verkommen (to become run down)
• miss-    
  missfallen (to displease), missverstehen (to misunderstand), misstrauen (to mistrust)
• zer-       
  zerstören (to destroy), zerreißen (to rip up)

Present Tense

Next let’s see some examples. When you conjugate an inseparable prefix verb in the present tense, the prefix remains attached to the main verb.

• Der Lehrer erklärt die Antwort.
  The teacher explains the answer.
• Verkaufen Sie Handys?
  Do you sell cell phones?
• Die Kinder missfallen ihren Eltern.
  The children displease their parents.

Modals

Now let’s look at some examples with modal verbs.

• Du musst gestehen.
  You have to confess.
• Wir können es nicht entfernen.
  We can’t remove it.
• Ich möchte meiner Chefin nicht missfallen.
  I don’t want to displease my boss.

Present Perfect

Next we’ll look at the Perfekt, also known as the conversational past or present perfect. In this tense, you know that the prefixes remain attached to the verb. But there’s one other thing to remember: there’s no ge– on the past participle, unlike other German verbs.

• Ich habe heute Morgen verschlafen.
  I overslept this morning.
• Wir haben letzte Woche unsere Wohnung verkauft.
  We sold our apartment last week.
• Der Sturm hat das Haus zerstört.
  The storm destroyed the house.
• Der Kellner hat einen sehr guten Wein empfohlen.
  The server recommended a very good wine.

While we’re talking about past participles that don’t take ge-, remember that borrowed verbs ending in –ieren also behave this way: telefonieren/telefoniert (to phone/phoned), analysieren/analysiert (to analyze), probieren/probiert (to taste, try), informieren/informiert (to inform).

• Ich habe mit meiner Mutter telefoniert.
  I talked to my mom on the phone.
• Wir haben das Problem analysiert.
  We analyzed the problem.
• Sie hat die Suppe probiert.
  She tasted the soup.
• Herr Meier hat die Chefin über die Änderung informiert.
  Mr. Meier informed the boss of the change.

But there are a few “native” German verbs ending in –ieren that behave regularly, for example schmieren/geschmiert (to spread), sich zieren/geziert (to act coyly).

• Du hast wieder zuviel Butter auf das Brot geschmiert!
  You spread too much butter on the bread again!
• Sie hat sich etwas geziert, aber dann hat sie ja gesagt.
  She acted a little coy, but then she said yes.

Zu Infinitives

Finally, here are a few examples with zu infinitives.

• Er hat vor, sein Unternehmen zu verkaufen.
  He intends to sell his company.
• Das ist schwer zu erklären.
  This is difficult to explain.

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