Читать книгу German Unlocked. Your Complete Guide to B2 Proficiency - - Страница 14

Many German verbs consist of a prefix attached to a base verb. These verbs can be categorized as either separable or inseparable, and this distinction affects how they are used in sentences, especially in the present and past tenses. Understanding separable and inseparable verbs is essential for correct sentence structure.

Separable Verbs (Trennbare Verben)

Separable verbs have a prefix that separates from the base verb in main clauses in the present and past tenses. The prefix moves to the end of the clause.

Common Separable Prefixes:

Here are some of the most common separable prefixes:

ab- (off, away)

an- (on, at)

auf- (up, open)

aus- (out, from)

bei- (at, near)

ein- (in, into)

mit- (with, along)

nach- (after, to)

vor- (before, in front of)

zu- (to, closed)

zurück- (back)

Examples of Separable Verbs:

abfahren (to depart): ab- + fahren

ankommen (to arrive): an- + kommen

aufmachen (to open): auf- + machen

ausgehen (to go out): aus- + gehen

einkaufen (to shop): ein- + kaufen

mitkommen (to come along): mit- + kommen

vorbereiten (to prepare): vor- + bereiten

zumachen (to close): zu- + machen

zurückkommen (to come back): zurück- + kommen

Sentence Structure with Separable Verbs

In the present and simple past (Präteritum) tenses, the prefix separates from the verb and moves to the end of the main clause. The base verb is conjugated according to the subject.

Ich kaufe heute ein. (ihh kau-fe hoi-te ain) – I am shopping today. (einkaufen – to shop)

Er kommt morgen an. (air komt mor-gen ahn) – He is arriving tomorrow. (ankommen – to arrive)

Wir machen das Fenster auf. (veer mah-hen das fen-ster auf) – We are opening the window. (aufmachen – to open)

Sie rief mich gestern an. (zee reef mihh ges-tern ahn) – She called me yesterday. (anrufen – to call (on the phone))

Separable Verbs in the Perfekt Tense

In the Perfekt tense, the «ge-” prefix of the past participle is inserted between the separable prefix and the verb stem.

Ich habe eingekauft. (ihh hah-be ain-ge-kauft) – I have shopped. (einkaufen)

Er ist angekommen. (air ist ahn-ge-ko-men) – He has arrived. (ankommen)

Wir haben aufgemacht. (veer hah-ben auf-ge-mahht) – We have opened. (aufmachen)

Inseparable Verbs (Untrennbare Verben)

Inseparable verbs have prefixes that do not separate from the base verb. The verb acts as a single unit in all tenses.

Common Inseparable Prefixes

Here are some of the most common inseparable prefixes:

be-

ge-

emp-

ent-

er-

ver-

zer-

miss-

Examples of Inseparable Verbs

besuchen (to visit): be- + suchen

gefallen (to please): ge- + fallen

empfehlen (to recommend): emp- + fehlen

enthalten (to contain): ent- + halten

erklären (to explain): er- + klären

verkaufen (to sell): ver- + kaufen

zerstören (to destroy): zer- + stören

missverstehen (to misunderstand): miss- + verstehen

Sentence Structure with Inseparable Verbs

In the present, past, and Perfekt tenses, the inseparable verb stays together as a single unit.

Ich besuche meine Freunde. (ihh be-zoo-he mai-ne froin-de) – I visit my friends.

Er erklärte die Situation. (air air-klayr-te dee zee-too-a-tsee-ohn) – He explained the situation.

Wir haben das Haus verkauft. (veer hah-ben das haus fer-kauft) – We have sold the house.

Sie missversteht mich oft. (zee mis-fer-shtate mihh oft) – She often misunderstands me.

Inseparable Verbs in the Perfekt Tense

Because the «ge-” prefix is not added to the past participle of inseparable verbs, you simply use the base verb with its inseparable prefix.

Ich habe meine Freunde besucht. (ihh hah-be mai-ne froin-de be-zooht) – I have visited my friends.

Er hat die Situation erklärt. (air hat dee zee-too-a-tsee-ohn air-klayrt) – He has explained the situation.

Distinguishing Separable and Inseparable Verbs

Unfortunately, there is no simple rule to determine whether a verb is separable or inseparable. You generally have to memorize them. However, there are a few helpful hints:

Prefixes that can also function as prepositions (like an, auf, aus, ein, mit, nach, vor, zu) are often (but not always) separable.

Prefixes that are never prepositions (like be, ge, emp, ent, er, ver, zer, miss) are always inseparable.

The stress pattern can provide a clue: Separable verbs are usually stressed on the prefix, while inseparable verbs are stressed on the verb stem. For example:

AN-kommen (to arrive) – Separable

be-SU-chen (to visit) – Inseparable

Word Bank

trennbar (tren-bar) – separable

untrennbar (oon-tren-bar) – inseparable

abfahren (ahp-fah-ren) – to depart

ankommen (ahn-ko-men) – to arrive

aufmachen (auf-mah-hen) – to open

ausgehen (aus-gay-en) – to go out

einkaufen (ain-kau-fen) – to shop

besuchen (be-zoo-hen) – to visit

erklären (air-klay-ren) – to explain

verkaufen (fer-kau-fen) – to sell

Exercises

Identify whether the following verbs are separable or inseparable: abholen, gefallen, erklären, mitnehmen, besuchen, anfangen, verkaufen, entnehmen.

Conjugate the following separable verbs in the present tense: ankommen, aufmachen, einkaufen.

Conjugate the following inseparable verbs in the present tense: besuchen, erklären, verkaufen.

Translate the following sentences into German, paying attention to separable and inseparable verbs:

I am opening the window.

He explains the situation.

We have visited our friends.

She is shopping today.

They are selling the house.

He is arriving tomorrow.

Rewrite the sentences from Exercise 4 in the Perfekt tense.

That completes Chapter 13! You now have a solid understanding of separable and inseparable verbs, how they function in sentences, and how to identify them. Keep in mind that practice and memorization are key when it comes to mastering these verbs!