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VerbsSeparable Verbs

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Inhalt

Separable Verbs

What separable verbs are

How to use separable verbs in the present tense

Verbs with inseparable prefixes

Using separable verbs in the perfect tense

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What are separable verbs?

Some German verbs have two parts: a root and a separable prefix. These are called separable verbs because the parts of the verb separate when you use it in a sentence.

abfahren: Der Zug fährt um 9 ab.The train leaves at 9.

Der Bus kommt um 10 an.The bus arrives at 10.

ankommen:

These are the prefixes. Although the infinitive form of the verb to arrive is ankommen, when you use the verb in a

sentence, the prefix goes to the end of the sentence.

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How to use separable verbs

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Using separable verbs

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Separable and inseparable verbs

No, some prefixes can’t be moved,for example be–, emp–, ent–, er–,

ge–, ver– and zer–.

Are all German verbs with prefixes

separable?

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Separable and inseparable verbs

Are there any prefixes that can be separable

or inseparable?

Yes, just to confuse you, some are variable! For example über–,

durch–, um– and unter–. You say ich lese die Bewerbung durch (I’m reading the application through) but ich durchfahre Deutschland (I’m

travelling through Germany).

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Separable or inseparable?