Table of Contents
Understanding Separable Verbs in German
In daily German, separable verbs are extremely common. They look like one verb in the dictionary, but in a normal main clause they usually “split,” and one part moves to the end of the sentence. In this chapter you learn what they are, how they work in very simple present tense sentences, and how to recognize and use some of the most frequent ones in everyday routines.
What are separable verbs?
Many German verbs are formed with a short prefix at the beginning, for example “aufstehen” or “ankommen.” Some of these prefixes are separable. That means they can move away from the verb stem in a sentence.
Dictionary form:
• aufstehen = to get up
• einkaufen = to shop
• anrufen = to call (on the phone)
In the dictionary, you see only one word. In a normal main clause, the verb separates into:
• a prefix, and
• a verb stem that is conjugated.
Example:
Ich stehe um 7 Uhr auf.
I get up at 7 o’clock.
Here, the stem is “steh-” (from “stehen”) and the prefix is “auf.” In the sentence, “stehe” is in second position, “auf” goes to the end.
Common separable prefixes
At A1 level you mostly meet very frequent separable prefixes. Many of them give a spatial or clear basic idea to the verb.
Some common separable prefixes are:
| Prefix | Very basic meaning idea (English) | Example verb | Basic meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| ab- | off, away | abfahren | to depart (vehicle) |
| an- | at, to, on (start, approach) | anfangen | to begin |
| auf- | up, open, on | aufstehen | to get up |
| aus- | out, off | ausgehen | to go out |
| ein- | in, into | einkaufen | to shop |
| mit- | with, along | mitkommen | to come along |
| vor- | before, in front | vorbereiten | to prepare |
| zu- | to, closed, toward | zumachen | to close |
| zurück- | back | zurückkommen | to come back |
At this level, you do not need to learn every possible prefix, but you should recognize that words like “aufstehen,” “mitkommen,” and “einkaufen” are usually separable.
In a simple main clause in the present tense, a separable verb splits. The conjugated part stands in second position, the prefix stands at the end of the clause.
Position in the sentence
German main clauses have the conjugated verb in second position. With separable verbs, the stem is in this second position, and the prefix moves to the end.
Basic pattern
Subject + conjugated stem + … + prefix.
Table with “aufstehen” (to get up):
| German sentence | Structure | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ich stehe um 7 Uhr auf. | Subject – verb – time – prefix | I get up at 7 o’clock. |
| Du stehst sehr früh auf. | Subject – verb – adverb – prefix | You get up very early. |
| Er steht am Montag spät auf. | Subject – verb – time phrase – prefix | He gets up late on Monday. |
Notice the verb part “stehe/stehst/steht” is in second position. The prefix “auf” stands at the end.
Different elements before the verb
German allows different elements in first position, but the conjugated verb is still second, and the prefix stays at the end.
| German | Explanation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ich rufe meine Mutter an. | Subject first. | I call my mother. |
| Heute rufe ich meine Mutter an. | Time word first, subject after verb. | Today I call my mother. |
| Um 8 Uhr fängt der Film an. | Time phrase first, verb second, subject later. | At 8 o’clock the film starts. |
In each case, the prefix “an” is at the end of the clause.
No matter what comes first, the conjugated verb of a separable verb must be in second position, and the prefix remains at the end of the clause.
Conjugation of common separable verbs
Separable verbs use the same present tense endings as regular verbs. Only the prefix is special because it can move. At A1 level you mainly use simple present tense forms like “ich gehe,” “du kommst,” “er macht.” The stem is conjugated, not the prefix.
Example: “aufstehen” (to get up)
Infinitive: aufstehen
Stem: steh-
Prefix: auf
| Person | German | English |
|---|---|---|
| ich | ich stehe auf | I get up |
| du | du stehst auf | you get up (singular, informal) |
| er/sie/es | er steht auf | he gets up |
| wir | wir stehen auf | we get up |
| ihr | ihr steht auf | you get up (plural, informal) |
| sie/Sie | sie/Sie stehen auf | they / you (formal) get up |
The endings are exactly like the regular verb “stehen.”
Example: “anrufen” (to call on the phone)
Infinitive: anrufen
Stem: ruf-
Prefix: an
| Person | German | English |
|---|---|---|
| ich | ich rufe an | I call (phone) |
| du | du rufst an | you call |
| er/sie/es | er ruft an | he calls |
| wir | wir rufen an | we call |
| ihr | ihr ruft an | you call (plural) |
| sie/Sie | sie/Sie rufen an | they / you (formal) call |
Example: “einkaufen” (to shop, to buy groceries)
Infinitive: einkaufen
Stem: kauf-
Prefix: ein
| Person | German | English |
|---|---|---|
| ich | ich kaufe ein | I shop / I buy groceries |
| du | du kaufst ein | you shop |
| er/sie/es | er kauft ein | he shops |
| wir | wir kaufen ein | we shop |
| ihr | ihr kauft ein | you shop (plural) |
| sie/Sie | sie/Sie kaufen ein | they / you (formal) shop |
The conjugation endings are the usual regular endings that you learn for present tense verbs.
Separable verbs in daily routines
Separable verbs are very common when you describe your day. Here are some typical A1 actions with time phrases. Notice the verb position and the prefix at the end.
| German sentence | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Ich wache um 6 Uhr auf. | I wake up at 6 o’clock. |
| Ich stehe um halb sieben auf. | I get up at half past six. |
| Ich mache das Licht an. | I turn the light on. |
| Ich ziehe mich schnell an. | I get dressed quickly. |
| Ich mache das Fenster auf. | I open the window. |
| Ich kaufe am Samstag ein. | I shop on Saturday. |
| Ich räume am Abend auf. | I tidy up in the evening. |
| Ich sehe am Wochenende fern. | I watch TV at the weekend. |
| Ich rufe meine Freunde abends an. | I call my friends in the evening. |
| Ich schlafe am Sonntag aus. | I sleep in on Sunday. |
Some of these verbs:
• aufwachen = to wake up
• aufstehen = to get up
• anmachen = to switch on
• ausmachen = to switch off
• aufmachen = to open
• zumachen = to close
• anziehen (sich anziehen) = to put on clothes, to get dressed
• aufräumen = to tidy up
• fernsehen = to watch television
• einkaufen = to shop
• ausschlafen = to sleep in
In statements with separable verbs, always put the prefix at the very end of the clause, after all objects, time, and place information.
Yes / no questions with separable verbs
For yes / no questions, German puts the conjugated verb first. With a separable verb, the stem is first and the prefix stays at the end.
Pattern:
Verb (stem) + subject + … + prefix?
Examples:
• Stehst du früh auf?
Do you get up early?
• Räumst du heute dein Zimmer auf?
Are you tidying your room today?
• Rufst du mich morgen an?
Will you call me tomorrow?
• Kauft ihr am Freitag ein?
Are you shopping on Friday?
Notice that the prefix “auf,” “an,” “ein” are always at the end of the question.
W-questions with separable verbs
For questions with a question word, the question word comes first, then the conjugated verb in second position, and again the prefix at the end.
Pattern:
Question word + verb (stem) + subject + … + prefix?
Examples:
• Wann stehst du auf?
When do you get up?
• Um wie viel Uhr fängst du mit der Arbeit an?
At what time do you start work?
• Wo kaufst du immer ein?
Where do you always shop?
• Wen rufst du heute Abend an?
Whom are you calling this evening?
The rule for verb position does not change. Only one element, the question word, moves in front.
Word stress in separable verbs
In separable verbs, the stress is usually on the prefix, not on the stem.
Examples:
• Áufstehen
• Éinkaufen
• Ánrufen
• Áufräumen
• Ánfangen
This strong stress on the prefix is a helpful signal that the verb is separable in main clauses.
Basic overview of frequent daily separable verbs
Here is a small list of useful A1 separable verbs that describe everyday routines.
| Infinitive (German) | Meaning (English) | Example sentence (German) | English meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| aufstehen | to get up | Ich stehe um 7 Uhr auf. | I get up at 7 o’clock. |
| aufwachen | to wake up | Ich wache ohne Wecker auf. | I wake up without an alarm clock. |
| anmachen | to turn on (light, device) | Ich mache den Computer an. | I turn the computer on. |
| ausmachen | to turn off | Ich mache das Licht aus. | I turn the light off. |
| aufmachen | to open | Ich mache die Tür auf. | I open the door. |
| zumachen | to close | Ich mache das Fenster zu. | I close the window. |
| anziehen (sich) | to put on, get dressed | Ich ziehe mich schnell an. | I get dressed quickly. |
| einkaufen | to shop, buy groceries | Ich kaufe am Abend ein. | I shop in the evening. |
| aufräumen | to tidy up | Ich räume mein Zimmer auf. | I tidy up my room. |
| fernsehen | to watch TV | Ich sehe abends fern. | I watch TV in the evening. |
| anrufen | to call (phone) | Ich rufe meine Freundin an. | I call my girlfriend / friend. |
| mitkommen | to come along | Kommst du ins Kino mit? | Are you coming to the cinema? |
| anfangen | to begin | Der Kurs fängt um 9 Uhr an. | The course begins at 9 o’clock. |
| zurückkommen | to come back | Ich komme spät zurück. | I come back late. |
| ausschalten | to switch off | Ich schalte den Fernseher aus. | I switch the TV off. |
These verbs appear often when you talk about workdays, weekends, and simple activities in your free time.
New vocabulary from this chapter
| German | Part of speech | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| aufstehen | verb | to get up |
| aufwachen | verb | to wake up |
| anmachen | verb | to turn on (light, device) |
| ausmachen | verb | to turn off (light, device) |
| aufmachen | verb | to open |
| zumachen | verb | to close |
| anziehen (sich) | verb | to put on, to get dressed |
| einkaufen | verb | to shop, to buy groceries |
| aufräumen | verb | to tidy up |
| fernsehen | verb | to watch television |
| anrufen | verb | to call (on the phone) |
| mitkommen | verb | to come along |
| anfangen | verb | to begin, to start |
| zurückkommen | verb | to come back |
| ausschlafen | verb | to sleep in |
| ausschalten | verb | to switch off |
| der Wecker | noun | alarm clock |
| das Licht | noun | light |
| das Fenster | noun | window |
| die Tür | noun | door |
| das Zimmer | noun | room |
| der Fernseher | noun | television set |
| der Computer | noun | computer |