BY ALICIA TAYLOR AND HANNAA ASSI

 Separable verbs consist of a verb and another ‘bit’, which adds extra meaning. Certain German verbs have a prefix such as aus, auf and zurϋck. The verb will separate from the prefix under certain conditions.  A separable verb is a verb that is composed of a verb stem and a separable affix.

 If the separable verb is the first (and often only) verb in a sentence or clause, these two elements separate. The main verb - also called the stem - assumes its normal position in the sentence, but the prefix is placed right at the end.  EXAMPLES Abfahren Wann fährst du ab? ("When do you depart?") Ankommen Wann kommt der Zug an? ("When does the train arrive?") Aussteigen Er steigt in München aus. ("He gets out in Munich.") Einsteigen Bitte steigen Sie ein! ("Please get in!") Umsteigen Sie steigen hier um ("You change here.") Prefix at end of sentence. Separable verb at beginning of sentence.

 Separable verbs are so called because the prefix is separated from the verb in main clauses and placed at the end of the clause. When this happens, the prefix never alters in form. Instead, the verb itself takes exactly the same endings, whether regular ('weak') or irregular ('strong') as the root verb from which it is derived. Ich gehe oft aus Verb goes second in the sentence and varies on the subject in this case ‘ICH’. The prefix doesn't change and goes to end of sentence.

 In the future tense and modal verbs the verb does NOT separate from the prefix. And goes to the end of the sentence. The modal verb or the Auxiliary verb( used in future tense) is second in the sentence.  EXAMPLES Er wird wohl mitessen Ich darf nicht ausgehen Er muss wohl mitessen Verb and prefix are not separated and go to end of sentence. Auxiliary verb or modal verb second in sentence.

 The prefix always goes in front of the past participle. In other words the –ge (which always goes in front of a verb e.g. Gekauft) goes in between the separable verb and the past participle verb. Der Zug ist endlich angekommen Prefix (an) Verb (kommen) - ge goes in the middle and is referred to as the infix. Mutter hat schon eingekauft Sie sind schon angekommen

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