Introduction to Separable Prefix Verbs

German verbs have a remarkable feature that surprises many learners at first: some verbs are built from two parts — a base verb and a prefix — and in certain sentences those two parts split apart and travel to opposite ends of the clause. These are called separable prefix verbs (trennbare Verben), and they are everywhere in everyday German. When you say Ich stehe um sieben Uhr auf (I get up at seven o'clock), the verb aufstehen has split: stehe sits in position two, where the conjugated verb always goes, and auf has moved all the way to the end of the sentence. Understanding why this happens, when it happens, and when the prefix stays attached is one of the most important steps toward producing natural, accurate German. The good news is that the rules are consistent — once you understand the logic, they apply to hundreds of verbs in the same way.

Why Separable Prefix Verbs Matter

They are extremely common: Separable prefix verbs cover a huge range of everyday actions — waking up, arriving, shopping, calling someone, going out, listening. You will encounter them in almost every conversation.
Prefixes change meanings precisely: The same base verb can produce completely different verbs depending on its prefix. Kommen means to come; ankommen means to arrive; mitkommen means to come along; zurückkommen means to come back. Each prefix shifts the meaning in a specific, learnable direction.
They affect word order: The separated prefix must go to the end of the clause — this is non-negotiable. Understanding where the prefix lands is essential for building grammatically correct sentences.
They appear across all tenses: Whether you are speaking in the present tense, the perfect tense, or using modal verbs, separable prefix verbs follow rules that interact with each of these structures. Mastering them now unlocks cleaner usage across everything you learn later.

Understanding Separable Prefix Verbs

What makes a prefix separable?

A separable prefix is always a short, meaningful element — usually a preposition or adverb — that can stand on its own in German. This is the key to recognising them: prefixes like an-, aus-, auf-, ein-, mit-, nach-, vor-, zu-, ab-, weg-, zurück- are all words you already know. Because they have independent meaning, they carry stress when spoken — you say ÁUFstehen, not aufSTEhen. This stress on the prefix is one of the most reliable ways to identify a separable verb when you hear it.

Prefix	Basic meaning	Example verb	English
an-	on, at, toward	ankommen	to arrive
aus-	out, from	ausgehen	to go out
auf-	up, open	aufstehen	to get up
ein-	in, into	einkaufen	to shop
mit-	along, together	mitkommen	to come along
nach-	after, following	nachschauen	to look up / check
zu-	closed, toward	zuhören	to listen attentively
ab-	off, away, down	abfahren	to depart
vor-	before, forward	vorstellen	to introduce / imagine
zurück-	back	zurückkommen	to come back
weg-	away	weggehen	to go away / leave

When does the prefix separate?

The prefix separates in exactly two situations: in main clauses in the present tense, and in the imperative. In both cases, the conjugated verb stays in its normal position (position two in a statement, position one in a command), and the prefix moves all the way to the end of the clause.

Context	Prefix behaviour	Example	English
Main clause, present tense	Separates — prefix goes to end	Ich stehe um 7 Uhr auf.	I get up at 7 o'clock.
Imperative (du)	Separates — prefix goes to end	Steh auf!	Get up!
Imperative (ihr)	Separates — prefix goes to end	Steht auf!	Get up! (plural)
Imperative (Sie)	Separates — prefix goes to end	Stehen Sie auf!	Get up! (formal)
Subordinate clause	Stays attached — verb goes to end	…weil ich aufstehe.	…because I get up.
Modal verb + infinitive	Stays attached	Ich will aufstehen.	I want to get up.
Perfect tense participle	Stays attached — ge- inserted between prefix and stem	Ich bin aufgestanden.	I got up.
zu + infinitive	Stays attached — zu inserted between prefix and stem	Ich versuche aufzustehen.	I am trying to get up.

Forming the perfect tense participle

In the perfect tense, separable verbs form their past participle by inserting ge- between the prefix and the verb stem — not at the beginning of the whole word. This is different from regular verbs, where ge- goes at the front.

Verb	Participle	Auxiliary	Example
aufstehen	aufgestanden	sein	Ich bin aufgestanden.
ausgehen	ausgegangen	sein	Wir sind ausgegangen.
ankommen	angekommen	sein	Sie ist angekommen.
einkaufen	eingekauft	haben	Er hat eingekauft.
anrufen	angerufen	haben	Ich habe angerufen.
zuhören	zugehört	haben	Sie hat zugehört.
abfahren	abgefahren	sein	Der Zug ist abgefahren.

The zu + infinitive construction

When a separable verb appears in a zu + infinitive construction — for example after verbs like versuchen, beginnen, or vorhaben — the word zu is inserted between the prefix and the verb stem, and the whole thing is written as one word.

Ich versuche, früh aufzustehen. — I am trying to get up early.
Er beginnt, die Tür aufzumachen. — He begins to open the door.
Wir haben vor, heute einzukaufen. — We plan to go shopping today.

Word order in main clauses — the full picture

In a main clause, the conjugated verb always occupies position two, and the separated prefix always goes to the very end. Everything else — objects, adverbs, time expressions — sits between these two fixed points.

Position 1	Position 2 (verb)	Middle field	End (prefix)
Ich	stehe	um 7 Uhr	auf.
Er	ruft	seine Mutter	an.
Wir	kaufen	heute im Supermarkt	ein.
Um 8 Uhr	fährt	der Zug	ab.
Heute Abend	gehen	wir mit Freunden	aus.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using Separable Prefix Verbs

Identify the verb: Recognise that the verb has a separable prefix — look for the stressed prefix at the beginning of the infinitive, e.g., ÁUFstehen, ÁNkommen.
Determine the sentence type: Is this a main clause, a subordinate clause, a modal construction, or a perfect tense sentence? This single decision determines everything that follows.
Conjugate the base verb: Remove the prefix mentally and conjugate only the base verb for the correct person and tense, e.g., stehen → ich stehe, du stehst, er steht.
Place the prefix correctly: In a main clause or imperative, send the prefix to the end. In a subordinate clause, modal construction, or infinitive, keep the prefix attached to the verb.
Build the perfect tense carefully: Insert ge- between the prefix and the verb stem, e.g., auf + ge + standen = aufgestanden. Then choose the correct auxiliary — sein for motion and change of state, haben for most other verbs.
Handle zu + infinitive: Insert zu between the prefix and the stem and write it as one word, e.g., aufzustehen.
Check the stress: When you say the verb aloud, the prefix always carries the stress — ÁUF-stehen, EÍN-kaufen. This applies even when the prefix has separated and sits at the end of the sentence.

Pro Tip: The most reliable test for whether a verb is separable is to listen for the stress. If the stress falls on the first syllable — the prefix — it separates. If the stress falls on the base verb, it does not. For example, verSTEhen (to understand) and beKOMmen (to receive) are inseparable and never split.

Memory Pattern: Think of the prefix as a magnet that pulls toward the end of the clause in main sentences. The conjugated verb anchors in position two, and the prefix flies to the opposite end. In subordinate clauses the magnet switches off — both parts stay locked together, with the whole verb in final position.

Exceptions & Special Cases

Verbs that can be both separable and inseparable

A small but important group of verbs behave differently depending on meaning. When the prefix is separable, it carries stress and the meaning is usually concrete and literal. When the prefix is inseparable, the stress falls on the verb stem and the meaning shifts — often becoming more abstract or figurative.

Verb	Separable (stressed prefix)	Inseparable (stressed stem)
umfahren	ÚMfahren — to drive around something: Er fährt das Hindernis um.	umFÁHren — to knock something over by driving into it: Er überfuhr das Schild.
übersetzen	ÜBERsetzen — to cross (a river): Das Boot setzt uns über.	überSÉTzen — to translate: Sie übersetzt den Text.
wiederholen	WÍEDERholen — to fetch back: Ich hole das Paket wieder.	wiederHÓLen — to repeat or revise: Wir wiederholen die Vokabeln.
durchbrechen	DÚRCHbrechen — to break through physically: Das Eis bricht durch.	durchBRÉCHen — to break a rule or record: Er durchbricht den Rekord.
umziehen	ÚMziehen — to get changed: Ich ziehe mich um.	umZÍEHen — to move house: Wir ziehen nächsten Monat um.

Separable verbs with irregular base verbs

When the base verb is itself irregular — changing its stem vowel in the du and er/sie/es forms — that change carries through into the separable verb. The prefix separation rule is unaffected, but the stem vowel change must be applied correctly.

Verb	Stem change	Example	English
einladen	laden → lädt	Sie lädt ihre Freunde ein.	She invites her friends.
vorschlagen	schlagen → schlägt	Er schlägt einen Kompromiss vor.	He suggests a compromise.
aufnehmen	nehmen → nimmt	Sie nimmt das Interview auf.	She records the interview.
anhalten	halten → hält	Der Bus hält hier an.	The bus stops here.
ausgeben	geben → gibt	Er gibt zu viel Geld aus.	He spends too much money.

Separable verbs where the auxiliary choice is surprising

Most learners expect motion verbs to take sein and action verbs to take haben. Separable verbs occasionally challenge this expectation. The underlying rule is consistent — sein for a change of state or location, haben for everything else — but some verbs look like they should go one way and go the other.

Verb	Auxiliary	Why it surprises	Example
einschlafen	sein	No movement, but expresses a change of state	Das Kind ist schnell eingeschlafen.
aufwachen	sein	Waking up is a change of state, not a physical action	Ich bin um sechs aufgewacht.
einkaufen	haben	Involves going somewhere, but the focus is the activity, not the movement	Wir haben heute eingekauft.
anhalten	haben	Stopping implies change, but the verb focuses on the act of stopping something else	Der Fahrer hat den Bus angehalten.
ausgehen	sein	Follows the rule correctly, but learners often use haben by analogy with einkaufen	Wir sind gestern ausgegangen.

Separable verbs used with reflexive pronouns

Some separable verbs are always reflexive — they require a reflexive pronoun in every use. When the verb separates in a main clause, the reflexive pronoun stays close to the subject, immediately after the conjugated verb, while the prefix still travels to the end.

Verb	English	Main clause example
sich umziehen	to get changed	Ich ziehe mich um.
sich anmelden	to register / sign up	Er meldet sich für den Kurs an.
sich ausruhen	to rest	Sie ruht sich nach der Arbeit aus.
sich vorbereiten	to prepare	Wir bereiten uns auf die Prüfung vor.

Separable verbs whose prefix transforms the meaning completely

In most cases a prefix adds a directional or intensifying nuance to the base verb. But in a handful of high-frequency verbs the prefix transforms the meaning so completely that the connection to the base verb is no longer obvious. These are worth learning individually rather than trying to derive from the parts.

Base verb	Separable verb	Meaning shift
sehen (to see)	aussehen	to look / appear: Du siehst müde aus. — You look tired.
kommen (to come)	auskommen	to get along / manage: Kommst du mit ihm aus? — Do you get along with him?
gehen (to go)	angehen	to concern someone: Das geht dich nichts an. — That is none of your business.
stehen (to stand)	zustehen	to be entitled to: Das steht dir zu. — You are entitled to that.
fallen (to fall)	auffallen	to stand out / be noticeable: Es fällt sofort auf. — It stands out immediately.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Ich aufstehe um 7 Uhr.
- Fix: In a main clause the conjugated verb must be in position two and the prefix goes to the end — never leave them attached in the middle of the sentence. Correct: Ich stehe um 7 Uhr auf.
Mistake 2: …weil ich stehe auf.
- Fix: In a subordinate clause the prefix stays attached to the verb, and the whole verb moves to the very end of the clause. Correct: …weil ich aufstehe.
Mistake 3: Ich habe ausgegangen.
- Fix: Ausgehen expresses motion to a new location and therefore takes sein as its auxiliary. Correct: Ich bin ausgegangen.
Mistake 4: Ich habe geaufgestanden.
- Fix: In the past participle of a separable verb, ge- is inserted between the prefix and the verb stem — not placed before the entire word. Correct: Ich bin aufgestanden.
Mistake 5: Ich versuche auf zu stehen.
- Fix: In a zu + infinitive construction, zu goes between the prefix and the stem and the whole thing is written as one unbroken word. Correct: Ich versuche aufzustehen.
Nuance 1: Some prefixes look separable but are not.
- Fix: Prefixes like ver-, be-, er-, ent-, ge-, zer- are always inseparable and never split from their verb. Ich verstehe (I understand) never becomes Ich stehe ver. The stress test is the most reliable guide: inseparable prefix verbs are stressed on the base verb, not the prefix.
Nuance 2: Assuming all motion verbs take sein in the perfect tense.
- Fix: The deciding factor is not motion but whether there is a change of location or state. Einkaufen involves going to a shop, but the focus is the activity — so it takes haben: Ich habe eingekauft. When in doubt, ask whether the subject ends up somewhere different or in a different state. If yes, use sein.

Pronunciation Guide

aufstehen – OWF-shteh-en – Ich stehe auf. — stress stays on OWF even when the prefix is at the end
ankommen – AN-kom-en – Sie kommt morgen an. — the AN at the end receives full stress
ausgehen – OWS-geh-en – Wir gehen heute aus. — OWS is clearly stressed
einkaufen – AIN-kow-fen – Er kauft ein. — the diphthong in AIN is sharp, not blended
anrufen – AN-roo-fen – Ruf mich an! — stress on AN even at the end of the imperative
zuhören – TSOO-hœ-ren – Hört bitte zu! — TSOO is crisp; the umlaut in hœ is a rounded front vowel
abfahren – AP-fah-ren – Der Zug fährt ab. — the b in ab- devoices to a p sound at the end of the syllable

Cultural Insights

Structure in daily routines: Many of the most common separable prefix verbs describe the rhythms of a structured day — aufstehen (get up), anfangen (begin), aufhören (finish), einschlafen (fall asleep). This reflects the high value placed on punctuality and routine in German-speaking cultures, where schedules are taken seriously in both professional and social life.
Social invitations: The verbs ausgehen (to go out), mitkommen (to come along), and vorbeikommen (to come over / drop by) are the backbone of casual social planning. Kommst du mit? (Are you coming along?) is one of the most natural and frequently used phrases in everyday spoken German.
Attentiveness in communication: Zuhören — to listen attentively — is considered a social virtue in German communication. The prefix zu- adds a sense of directed, focused attention that plain hören (to hear) does not carry. Using the right verb signals that you are genuinely engaged, not just passively present.
Verbs in written instructions: Separable prefix verbs appear constantly in recipes, manuals, and official instructions — often in their imperative or infinitive forms: Aufkochen lassen (Bring to the boil), Abkühlen lassen (Leave to cool), Eintragen (Fill in). Recognising them in these contexts is essential for navigating practical written German.

Practice Scenarios

Morning Routine: Describing your daily schedule using separable verbs, e.g., Ich stehe um halb acht auf, dann frühstücke ich und fange um neun mit der Arbeit an.
- Ich ziehe mich schnell an.
- Der Wecker geht um sechs Uhr los.
- Ich bereite das Frühstück vor.
Shopping: Using separable verbs at the supermarket or while planning errands, e.g., Ich kaufe heute im Supermarkt ein. Kannst du mitkommen?
- Ich hole die Einkaufsliste raus.
- Er packt die Taschen ein.
- Wir rechnen den Gesamtpreis aus.
Making Plans: Inviting someone and discussing arrangements, e.g., Wir gehen heute Abend aus. Kommst du mit?
- Wann fangt ihr an?
- Ich rufe dich später an.
- Wir kommen gegen acht Uhr an.
Telling a Story: Using the perfect tense to narrate past events, e.g., Gestern bin ich früh aufgestanden, weil mein Freund angerufen hat.
- Wir sind um zehn ausgegangen.
- Der Bus ist pünktlich abgefahren.
- Sie hat gut zugehört und alles aufgeschrieben.

Follow-Up Questions

How do I know whether a prefix is separable or inseparable?
- Example Answer: Listen for the stress. Separable prefixes like an-, auf-, aus-, ein-, mit- carry the stress: ANkommen, AUFstehen. Inseparable prefixes like ver-, be-, er-, ent- are unstressed and the stress falls on the base verb: verSTEhen, beKOMmen. If the prefix is a word that can stand on its own in German, it is almost certainly separable.
Where exactly does the separated prefix go if there are many elements in the sentence?
- Example Answer: The prefix always goes to the very last position in the main clause — after all objects, adverbs, and time expressions. For example: Ich rufe dich morgen früh an. The prefix an comes after the object dich and the time expression morgen früh.
Why do some separable verbs use sein and others haben in the perfect tense?
- Example Answer: The rule is the same as for all German verbs. Verbs expressing motion to a new location or a change of state take sein — aufstehen, ausgehen, ankommen, einschlafen. Verbs expressing activities without a change of location or state take haben — einkaufen, anrufen, zuhören. Ask yourself: does the subject end up somewhere different or in a different condition? If yes, use sein.
What happens to the zu + infinitive construction with a separable verb?
- Example Answer: The word zu slides in between the prefix and the verb stem, and the whole thing is written as one word. So aufstehen becomes aufzustehen, einkaufen becomes einzukaufen, and anrufen becomes anzurufen. Example: Ich habe versucht, sie anzurufen. I tried to call her.
Do separable verbs in subordinate clauses behave differently in any way?
- Example Answer: In a subordinate clause the separable verb stays together as one unit and moves to the very end of the clause. The prefix and stem do not separate. For example: Ich weiß, dass er früh aufsteht. I know that he gets up early. The whole verb aufsteht sits at the end, intact.

Conclusion

Separable prefix verbs are one of the building blocks of natural, fluent German. Once you internalise the core rule — separate in main clauses and imperatives, stay together in subordinate clauses and infinitives, insert ge- in the perfect tense — you have a framework that applies consistently to hundreds of verbs. The prefixes themselves are not arbitrary: each one adds a specific shade of meaning to the base verb, and recognising those patterns will help you work out the meaning of new separable verbs as you encounter them. From here, the logical next step is to practise these verbs inside complex sentences combining main and subordinate clauses — where the separation rule and the word order rules interact directly.

Practice Makes Perfect

In the exercises below you will practise separating prefixes in main clause sentences, keeping them attached in subordinate clauses, forming perfect tense participles correctly, and building the zu + infinitive construction. Pay particular attention to the auxiliary verb choice in the perfect tense — sein versus haben — as this is where most errors occur once the separation rule itself is understood.