German conjugation explanation

Inseparable verb prefixes

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The verb prefixes <strong>be-, ge-, er-, ent-, emp-, miss-, ver-</strong> and <strong>zer-</strong> are always <strong>inseparable</strong>. Verbs with inseparable prefixes have the following characteristics:

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<p>The prefix always stays <strong>attached to the verb</strong> (even in the "zu + infinitive" structure): </p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Er <span class="green_emphasis">bekommt</span> in Französisch gute Noten. (<span style="font-style: italic;">He gets good grades in French.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ich habe versucht, dem Polizeibeamten das Problem <strong>zu</strong> <span class="green_emphasis">erklären</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I tried to explain the problem to the police officer.</span>)</div>

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<p>The <strong>-ge- infix does not appear</strong> in the <span style="font-style: italic;">Partizip</span> (past participle) form of the verb:</p>

<div style="text-align: center;">

<p style="font-style: italic;">erklären (=to explain) &#8594; erklärt</p>

<p style="font-style: italic;">bekommen (=to receive, to get) &#8594; bekommen</p>

<p style="font-style: italic;">verlieren (=to lose something) &#8594; verloren</p>

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The prefix in <strong>unstressed</strong> when the verb is spoken. The stress usually falls on the first syllable after the prefix.

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