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Separable Prefix Verbs
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
Not all prefixes in German are separable, though. 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
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
Here are a few 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
In the present perfect 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
And 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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