Split verbs File - Burnside High School

Split verbs (separable verbs) Trennbare Verben
In German many verbs are split verbs. These verbs are made up of a main
verb and a separable prefix which splits from the verb and normally goes to
the end of the sentence.
Common separable prefixes are:
ab
ab/fahren= to depart (Der Zug fährt um 10:45 ab.)
ab/holen= to fetch
an
an/kommen= to arrive
an/ziehen= to get dressed; put on clothes
auf
auf/stehen= to get up
auf/machen= to open
auf/wachen= to wake up
aus
aus/steigen= to get out
aus/sehen= to look like
aus/gehen= to go out
ein
ein/packen= to pack up
ein/steigen= to get into (train)
fern
fern/sehen= to watch TV
hin
hin/fahren= to go to
mit
mit/kommen= to come along
mit/nehmen= to take along
rad
rad/fahren= to bike, cycle
vor
vor/haben= to intend
weg
weg/fahren= to go away on holiday
weiter
weiter/machen= to continue
zurück
zurück/kommen= to come back
zurück/fahren= to travel back
um
um/steigen= to change trains
um/ziehen= to move house
zu
zu/machen= to close
a) If there is one verb in the sentence, the prefix is the last word in the
sentence
Eg
Ich gehe gern aus.= I like going out.
b) If there are 2 verbs in a sentence, the whole verb comes at the end of
the sentence and does not separate
Eg
Ich will heute fernsehen.=I want to watch TV today
c) The meaning of the prefix sometimes gives you a clue to the meaning
of the whole verb
Eg
ab= away ; fahren= to go> ab/fahren= to depart
d) Some verbs are inseparable and the prefix never separates
Eg
be
ver
er
ent
wieder
besuchen
vergessen; verstehen
erzählen= to tell
entscheiden= to decide
wiederholen= to repeat
Übung; Bitte ins Deutsche!
1. When does the train arrive in Berlin?
2. When does the train depart?
3. She looks very pretty.
4. They get into the train.
5. The children have to take off their jackets.
6. They are not travelling back to Berlin.
7. My mother is fetching us after school.
8. Do I have to change trains?
9. Karl puts on his jacket.
10. I like going away in the holidays.