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A separable verb (trennbares Verb) is made of two parts: a short prefix and a base verb. In the dictionary, they appear as a single word — aufstehen, anrufen, einkaufen. In a sentence, they split apart.

The prefix changes the meaning of the base verb, often substantially. Stehen means to stand; aufstehen means to get up. Rufen means to shout or call out; anrufen means to phone someone. The two halves are always recognisable, which makes separable verbs easier to decode than they first appear.

The splitting rule itself is completely consistent: the base verb is conjugated normally and placed in position 2. The prefix goes to the absolute end of the sentence, no matter how much content sits between them. Once that pattern is automatic, the rest follows.

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How They Work

When you use a separable verb in a sentence, the two parts behave as follows: the base verb is conjugated for the subject and takes the normal verb-second position. The prefix detaches and moves to the end of the sentence. Everything else — the object, time expressions, adverbs — sits in the middle.

Sentence structure with a separable verb

SubjectIch
Base verb — Pos. 2stehe
Other informationum 7 Uhr
Prefix — Endauf.

Ich stehe um 7 Uhr auf. — I get up at 7 o'clock. (from aufstehen)

SubjectDer Zug
Base verb — Pos. 2kommt
Other informationum 14 Uhr
Prefix — Endan.

Der Zug kommt um 14 Uhr an. — The train arrives at 2 pm. (from ankommen)

The prefix cannot move earlier in the sentence under any normal circumstances. Even when the middle section is long, the prefix waits at the end. This can feel counterintuitive at first — the verb seems to arrive in two instalments — but it is one of the most reliable rules in German grammar.

How to spot them in the dictionary: Separable verbs are usually listed as one word with the prefix at the front. Some dictionaries mark them with a vertical bar — auf|stehen — to show where the split occurs. Once you know the common prefixes, you will recognise separable verbs on sight.

Here is how the prefix changes meaning compared to the base verb:

auf- + stehen → aufstehen

stehen — to stand

aufstehen — to get up / to stand up

an- + rufen → anrufen

rufen — to call out / to shout

anrufen — to phone someone

ein- + kaufen → einkaufen

kaufen — to buy

einkaufen — to go shopping

auf- + räumen → aufräumen

räumen — to clear / to empty

aufräumen — to tidy up

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Common Prefixes at A1

The prefix is your first signal that a verb is separable. Most of the prefixes you will encounter at A1 are short prepositions or adverbs. Learning to recognise them means you can identify separable verbs in new vocabulary before you have even checked the dictionary.

Prefix Common verbs Meaning Example sentence
an- anrufen · ankommen · anfangen to call · to arrive · to start Der Film fängt jetzt an. (The film is starting now.)
auf- aufstehen · aufräumen · aufmachen to get up · to tidy up · to open Ich räume mein Zimmer auf. (I am tidying my room.)
aus- ausfüllen · aussteigen · ausmachen to fill in · to get off · to turn off Steigen Sie hier aus? (Are you getting off here?)
ein- einkaufen · einsteigen · einladen to shop · to get on · to invite Wir kaufen am Samstag ein. (We shop on Saturday.)
mit- mitkommen · mitbringen · mitmachen to come along · to bring along · to join in Kommst du mit? (Are you coming along?)
fern- fernsehen to watch TV Er sieht jeden Abend fern. (He watches TV every evening.)
ab- abfahren · abholen · abbiegen to depart · to pick up · to turn off (road) Der Bus fährt um 8 Uhr ab. (The bus departs at 8.)
zurück- zurückkommen · zurückgehen to come back · to go back Wann kommst du zurück? (When are you coming back?)
Not all prefixes are separable: Some prefixes — be-, ge-, er-, ver-, zer-, ent- — are always inseparable and never split from the verb. At A1 you mainly encounter the separable group above, but be aware that seeing a prefix does not automatically mean a verb separates.
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In Questions

The prefix always ends up last — this does not change in questions. What changes is the position of the base verb. In yes/no questions it moves to position 1; in questions with a question word it stays in position 2. The prefix in both cases remains at the absolute end.

Yes / No question

Base verb moves to position 1

Verb — Subject — Other info — Prefix

Stehst du früh auf?
(Do you get up early?)

Machst du das Fenster auf?
(Are you opening the window?)
W-question (who, what, when…)

Question word takes position 1; verb stays at 2

W-word — Verb — Subject — Other info — Prefix

Wann kommst du zurück?
(When are you coming back?)

Wo steigst du aus?
(Where are you getting off?)
The prefix never moves forward in questions. No matter how different the sentence order looks, the prefix holds its position at the end. Kommst du mit? — the mit stays last even though the verb has jumped to position 1.
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With Modal Verbs

When a separable verb is used with a modal verb, the separable verb does not split. This is because the modal has already taken position 2 and the separable verb has been sent to the end as an infinitive. Infinitives are always written as one whole word — so the prefix and base verb stay together.

Without a modal — verb splits

Ich stehe um 6 Uhr auf.

I get up at 6 o'clock.

The base verb stehe is conjugated in position 2. The prefix auf sits at the end.

With a modal — verb stays whole

Ich muss um 6 Uhr aufstehen.

I have to get up at 6 o'clock.

The modal muss takes position 2. The separable verb aufstehen goes to the end intact as an infinitive.

The same principle applies with all modal verbs:

Modal Full sentence English
müssenDu musst jetzt aufräumen.You have to tidy up now.
könnenKannst du mich anrufen?Can you call me?
wollenWir wollen am Samstag einkaufen.We want to go shopping on Saturday.
möchtenIch möchte früh aufstehen.I would like to get up early.
dürfenDarf ich hier aussteigen?Am I allowed to get off here?
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Pronunciation

Separable verbs have a consistent stress pattern that distinguishes them from inseparable verbs and from ordinary compound words. Knowing this makes it easier to recognise them when you hear spoken German.

Stress always falls on the prefix

The stressed syllable in a separable verb is always the prefix, not the base verb. This is the opposite of inseparable verbs, where the stress falls on the base verb's root.

AUFstehen · ANrufen · EINkaufen · FERNsehen

This stress pattern is also useful as a quick check when you encounter an unfamiliar verb: if the stress is on the first syllable (the prefix), the verb is very likely separable.

Quick Practice

Each question tests a different aspect of separable verbs — fill in the missing part and press Check Answers.

Fill in the missing part

Some questions ask for the conjugated base verb; others ask for the prefix at the end. Read the hint carefully.

  1. 1 Ich jeden Morgen um 7 Uhr auf. (aufstehen)
    Conjugate the base verb stehen for ich. The prefix auf stays at the end.
  2. 2 Wir kaufen am Samstag . (einkaufen)
    The base verb kaufen is already conjugated for wir. Fill in the prefix that goes at the end.
  3. 3 Der Zug um 14 Uhr an. (ankommen)
    Conjugate the base verb kommen for der Zug (er/sie/es).
  4. 4 Ich muss um 6 Uhr . (aufstehen)
    There is a modal verb (muss) here — so the separable verb stays whole as an infinitive at the end.
  5. 5 Kommst du ? (mitkommen)
    Yes/no question — the base verb kommt is in position 1. The prefix still goes at the very end.

Study Tips

Three habits that make separable verbs second nature faster.

  • 1 Always learn the full verb, not just the prefix. Write aufstehen in your vocabulary notes, not just stehen with "auf-" added later. The prefix changes the meaning significantly enough that the two are essentially different words.
  • 2 Mark separable verbs clearly when you first encounter them. Many learners add a vertical bar — auf|stehen — to their notes, mimicking how dictionaries display them. This keeps the split visible when you review later.
  • 3 Practise with real sentences from the start. Writing Er sieht jeden Abend fern is more useful than drilling fernsehen, fernsehen, fernsehen in isolation, because it also trains the muscle memory of placing the prefix at the end where it belongs.