A2Verbs

German Separable Verbs (Trennbare Verben)

Separable verbs have prefixes that split off and go to the end of the sentence in main clauses.

Key Rules

  • 1Separable prefixes: ab-, an-, auf-, aus-, ein-, mit-, vor-, zu-
  • 2Prefix goes to end in main clauses
  • 3Prefix stays attached in subordinate clauses
  • 4Past participle: prefix + ge + stem + t (aufgemacht)

Examples

Ich stehe um 7 Uhr auf.

I get up at 7 o'clock.

💡 'aufstehen' separates: 'stehe' + 'auf' at the end.

Mach bitte die Tür zu!

Please close the door!

Ich habe das Fenster aufgemacht.

I opened the window.

Related Grammar Topics

Tenses
German Present Tense (Präsens)
A1
Tenses
German Perfect Tense (Perfekt)
A2
Word Order
German Word Order Basics
A1

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