German uses prefixes far more than English does. Also, a single verb derives a variety of new meanings from the prefixes. For example:
schreiben write
anschreiben write up
beschreiben describe
zuschreiben attribute to
German has two categories of prefixes: inseparable prefixes and separable prefixes. But a
few prefixes can be used in either category
Inseparable prefixes
Prefixes are always attached to the front end of a verb, and inseparable prefixes are never removed from this position, no matter the tense or form of the verb. The inseparable prefixes are be-, emp-, ent-, er-, ge-, miss-, ver-, and zer-. The stress in a verb with an inseparable prefix is always on the stem of the verb (bestéllen). Attached to verbs, the inseparable prefixes look like this:
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bekommen
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receive
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besuchen
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visit
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empfehlen
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recommend
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empfinden
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feel
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entlaufen
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run away
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entschließen
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decide
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erschlagen
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kill
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erwarten
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expect
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gefallen
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please
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gehören
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belong to
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missachten
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ignore
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misslingen
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be unsuccessful
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vergessen
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forget
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verstehen
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understand
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zerreißen
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tear to pieces
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zerschmettern
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smash
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Notice the position of the inseparable prefix on the following verbs in all the tenses.
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besuchen (visit)
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entlaufen (run away)
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present
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er besucht
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wir entlaufen
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past
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er besuchte
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wir entliefen
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present perfect
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er hat besucht
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wir sind entlaufen
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past perfect
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er hatte besucht
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wir waren entlaufen
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future
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er wird besuchen
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wir werden entlaufen
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Future perfect
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er wird besucht haben
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wir werden entlaufen sein
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In the perfect tenses, a ge- prefix is not required for past participles with inseparable prefixes. The inseparable prefix replaces ge-. Also, the function of the inseparable prefix is not affected whether the verb is regular or irregular or whether it requires haben or sein as its auxiliary.
Separable prefixes
There are many separable prefixes. These are adverbs and prepositions used to alter the meaning of a verb. Some of the commonly used separable prefixes are an, auf, aus, bei, ein, fort, mit, nach, vor, weg, and zu. But there are many others. The stress in a verb with a separable prefix is always on the separable prefix (vórstellen). Attached to verbs, separable prefixes look like this:
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ankommen
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arrive
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aufhören
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cease
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aussprechen
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pronounce
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beibringen
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teach
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fortfahren
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continue
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mitgehen
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go along
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nachahmen
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imitate
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vorstellen
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introduce
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weglaufen
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run away
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zunehmen
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increase
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When a verb with a separable prefix is conjugated, the separable prefix appears at the end of the sentence or clause in the present and past tenses and is separated from the past participle by the prefix ge- in the perfect tenses. In the future tense, the prefix remains on the infinitive. Notice the position of the separable prefix with the following example verbs in all the tenses.
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aufhören (cease)
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mitgehen (go along)
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present
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er hört auf
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wir gehen mit
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past
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er hörte auf
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wir gingen mit
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present perfect
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er hat aufgehört
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wir sind mitgegangen
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past perfect
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er hatte aufgehört
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wir waren mitgegangen
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future
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er wird aufhören
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wir werden mitgehen
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Future perfect
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er wird aufgehört haben
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wir werden mitgegangen sein
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Prefixes that can be separable and inseparable
A few prefixes are used in either category—separable and inseparable. If the stress is on the prefix itself, the prefix is separable. When the stress is on the stem of the verb, it is a signal that the prefix is being used as an inseparable prefix. Let’s look at some examples. Notice where the stress of the verb lies:
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separable
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inseparable
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dúrchfallen to fail
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durchdríngen to penetrate
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hinter- N/A
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hintergéhen to deceive
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sich übersehen to get fed up
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übertréiben to exaggerate
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úmkommen to die
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umármen to embrace
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únterkommen to find housing
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unterbréchen to interrupt
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vólltanken to fill up the gas tank
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vollzíehen to carry out
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wíderrufen to retract
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widerspíegeln to reflect
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wíedergeben to give back
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wiederhólen to repeat
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Compare the differences in the conjugations with the same prefix, used in one example as a separable prefix and in the second example as an inseparable prefix. The subject of each sentence will be er.
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wíderrufen (retract)
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widerspíegeln (reflect)
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present
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ruft wider
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widerspiegelt
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past
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rief wider
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widerspiegelte
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present perfect
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hat widergerufen
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hat widerspiegelt
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past perfect
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hatte widergerufen
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hatte widerspiegelt
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future
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wird widerrufen
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wird widerspiegeln
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future perfect
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wird widergerufen haben
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wird widerspiegelt haben
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Prefixes on nouns
If a verb has a noun form, its prefix also accompanies the noun. If the prefix is separable, the stress is on the prefix of the noun. If the prefix is inseparable, the stress is on the stem of the noun. Prefixes on nouns always remain in one position. For example:
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beháupten
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die Beháuptung
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claim
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áussprechen
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die Áussprache
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pronunciation
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