Trennbare Verben
Trennbare Verben — for English Speakers
Introduction
German separable verbs are like English phrasal verbs (pick up, turn off), but they split more dramatically. The prefix detaches and flies to the end of the sentence: 'aufstehen' (to get up) becomes 'Ich stehe um 7 Uhr auf.' English speakers already understand the concept from phrasal verbs, but the prefix landing at the very end of the sentence takes getting used to.
German vs English
In German
Ich rufe dich an. (anrufen → rufe...an)
In English
I call you up. (call up → call...up)
Key Difference
Both languages separate the particle, but German always sends it to the very end of the clause.
In German
Er kauft im Supermarkt ein. (einkaufen = to shop)
In English
Similar to 'He shops around at the supermarket'
Key Difference
German prefixes carry more meaning — 'ein' in einkaufen fundamentally changes 'kaufen' (buy → shop).
Common Mistakes for English Speakers
Ich aufstehe um 7 Uhr.
Keeping the prefix attached like an English infinitive instead of splitting it to the end.
Ich stehe auf um 7 Uhr.
Placing the prefix too early — it must go to the absolute end of the sentence.
Practice Examples
Ich stehe um 7 Uhr auf.
I get up at 7 o'clock.
Er ruft seine Mutter an.
He calls his mother.
Wir kaufen am Samstag ein.
We go shopping on Saturday.
Memory Tip
Think of separable verbs as boomerangs — the prefix always comes back to the end of the sentence.
View Grammar Rule
Trennbare Verben
Trennbare Verben — A1
Practice Exercises
Trennbare Verben Übungen
8 exercises
Other Languages
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