German separable verbs, known as trennbare Verben, are a unique and essential aspect of the German language. These verbs consist of a prefix and a base verb, and the prefix can detach and move to the end of the sentence in certain contexts. Understanding separable verbs is crucial for proper communication in German. This guide will explain what separable verbs are and how to conjugate them in different tenses.
What Are German Separable Verbs?
Separable verbs are verbs that combine a common verb with a prefix, altering the verb’s meaning. The prefix can separate from the base verb and move to the end of the sentence, especially in the present and simple past tenses. The meaning of the verb often changes significantly with the addition of the prefix.
Example:anrufen (to call up)
Ich rufe dich an. – I call you.
Common Separable Prefixes
Prefix
Meaning
Example Verb
English Translation
ab-
off, away
abfahren
to depart
an-
on, at
anfangen
to begin
auf-
up, open
aufmachen
to open
aus-
out
ausgehen
to go out
ein-
in, into
einladen
to invite
mit-
with
mitkommen
to come along
nach-
after
nachfragen
to inquire
vor-
before, forward
vorstellen
to introduce
zu-
to, closed
zumachen
to close
zurück-
back
zurückgeben
to give back
Example Sentences with Separable Prefixes
Ich lade dich zum Essen ein. – I invite you to dinner.
Er stellt sich vor. – He introduces himself.
Wir machen das Fenster auf. – We open the window.
Conjugation of Separable Verbs in the Present Tense (Präsens)
In the present tense, the separable prefix detaches from the base verb and moves to the end of the sentence.
Person
Conjugation of anrufen
English Translation
ich
rufe an
I call
du
rufst an
you call
er/sie/es
ruft an
he/she/it calls
wir
rufen an
we call
ihr
ruft an
you call
sie/Sie
rufen an
they call / you call
Example Sentences in the Present Tense
Ich rufe meine Mutter an. – I call my mother.
Rufst du deinen Freund an? – Are you calling your friend?
Sie ruft den Arzt an. – She calls the doctor.
For more details on the present tense, see our article on the German Present Tense.
Conjugation of Separable Verbs in the Present Perfect Tense (Perfekt)
In the present perfect tense, the separable prefix remains attached to the past participle. The auxiliary verbs haben or sein are used.
Person
Auxiliary Verb
Past Participle of einladen
English Translation
ich
habe
eingeladen
I have invited
du
hast
eingeladen
you have invited
er/sie/es
hat
eingeladen
he/she/it has invited
wir
haben
eingeladen
we have invited
ihr
habt
eingeladen
you have invited
sie/Sie
haben
eingeladen
they have invited / you have invited
Example Sentences in the Present Perfect Tense
Ich habe meine Freunde eingeladen. – I have invited my friends.
Hast du sie zur Party eingeladen? – Have you invited her to the party?
Er hat uns zum Abendessen eingeladen. – He has invited us to dinner.
Conjugation of Separable Verbs in the Simple Past Tense (Präteritum)
Learn how to use German separable verbs effectively with in-depth grammar studies in a quiet library setting.
The simple past tense is often used in written narratives and formal speech. For separable verbs, the prefix remains attached to the base verb in this tense.
Person
Conjugation of ausgehen
English Translation
ich
ging aus
I went out
du
gingst aus
you went out
er/sie/es
ging aus
he/she/it went out
wir
gingen aus
we went out
ihr
gingt aus
you went out
sie/Sie
gingen aus
they went out / you went out
Example Sentences in the Simple Past Tense
Ich ging gestern Abend aus. – I went out last night.
Gingst du mit ihnen aus? – Did you go out with them?
Conjugation of Separable Verbs in the Past Perfect Tense (Plusquamperfekt)
The past perfect tense describes actions that had occurred before another past event. It is formed with the simple past of the auxiliary verb and the past participle.
Person
Auxiliary Verb (Simple Past)
Past Participle of mitkommen
English Translation
ich
war
mitgekommen
I had come along
du
warst
mitgekommen
you had come along
er/sie/es
war
mitgekommen
he/she/it had come along
wir
waren
mitgekommen
we had come along
ihr
wart
mitgekommen
you had come along
sie/Sie
waren
mitgekommen
they had come along / you had come along
Example Sentences in the Past Perfect Tense
Ich war mit ihnen mitgekommen. – I had come along with them.
Warst du schon mitgekommen? – Had you already come along?
Er war nicht mitgekommen. – He had not come along.
Conjugation of Separable Verbs in the Future I Tense (Futur I)
The future I tense is used to talk about actions that will happen. It is formed with the auxiliary verb werden and the infinitive form of the main verb.
Person
Auxiliary Verb
Main Verb (vorstellen)
English Translation
ich
werde
vorstellen
I will introduce
du
wirst
vorstellen
you will introduce
er/sie/es
wird
vorstellen
he/she/it will introduce
wir
werden
vorstellen
we will introduce
ihr
werdet
vorstellen
you will introduce
sie/Sie
werden
vorstellen
they will introduce / you will introduce
Example Sentences in the Future I Tense
Ich werde dich meinen Eltern vorstellen. – I will introduce you to my parents.
Wirst du dich der Klasse vorstellen? – Will you introduce yourself to the class?
Sie wird uns das neue Projekt vorstellen. – She will introduce the new project to us.
Conjugation of Separable Verbs in the Future II Tense (Futur II)
The future II tense expresses actions that will have been completed in the future. It is formed with werden, the past participle, and the auxiliary verb sein or haben in infinitive form.
Person
Auxiliary Verb
Past Participle of zurückkommen
Auxiliary Verb (Infinitive)
English Translation
ich
werde
zurückgekommen
sein
I will have returned
du
wirst
zurückgekommen
sein
you will have returned
er/sie/es
wird
zurückgekommen
sein
he/she/it will have returned
wir
werden
zurückgekommen
sein
we will have returned
ihr
werdet
zurückgekommen
sein
you will have returned
sie/Sie
werden
zurückgekommen
sein
they will have returned / you will have returned
Example Sentences in the Future II Tense
Bis nächste Woche werde ich zurückgekommen sein. – By next week, I will have returned.
Wirst du bis morgen zurückgekommen sein? – Will you have returned by tomorrow?
Er wird von der Reise zurückgekommen sein. – He will have returned from the trip.
To learn more about the future perfect tense, read our article on the German Future II Tense.
Conclusion
Understanding German separable verbs is essential for constructing accurate sentences. Recognizing the prefixes and knowing when they separate from the base verb will improve your fluency. Practice conjugating different separable verbs in various tenses to become more comfortable with their usage.
For a comprehensive overview of German tenses, visit our guide on German Tenses Explained.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if a verb is separable?
Look at the prefix of the verb. Common separable prefixes include ab-, an-, auf-, aus-, ein-, mit-, nach-, vor-, zu-, and zurück-. These prefixes indicate a separable verb.
When does the prefix separate from the verb?
The prefix separates in main clauses in the present and simple past tenses. It moves to the end of the sentence or clause.
Do separable verbs remain attached in the infinitive form?
Yes, in the infinitive form, separable verbs remain attached, such as anrufen, einladen, or aufstehen.
How are separable verbs used in subordinate clauses?
In subordinate clauses, the prefix usually remains attached to the verb and the conjugated verb moves to the end of the clause.
Are there verbs with inseparable prefixes?
Yes, German also has inseparable prefixes like be-, ent-, er-, ver-, and zer-. These prefixes do not separate from the base verb. You can get more detailed information about German inseparable verbs: here.
