German conjugation explanation
Separable verb prefixes
<p>
Most verb prefixes (including <strong>ab-, an-, auf-, aus-, bei-, dar-, ein-, fort-, heim-, her-, hin-, los-, mit-, nach-, nieder-, ob-, vor-, weg-, zu-, zurück-</strong> and <strong>zusammen-</strong>) are always <strong>separable</strong>. Verbs with separable prefixes have the following characteristics:
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<ul>
<li>
<p>When used in a <strong>main clause</strong>, the <strong>prefix is separated</strong> from the original verb and <strong>moved to the end of the clause</strong>. In its new position, the prefix can be followed by:<span style="font-style"></p>
<ul>
<li>a <strong>punctuation mark</strong>:
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Wie <span class="green_emphasis">spricht</span> man deinen Nachnamen <span class="green_emphasis">aus</span><span class="in_word_highlight">?</span> (<span style="font-style: italic;">How do you pronounce your last name?</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Hast</span> du <span class="green_emphasis">vor</span><span class="in_word_highlight">,</span> das alles allein zu essen? (<span style="font-style: italic;">Are you planning on eating all of this by yourself?</span>)</div>
</li>
<li>the words <strong style="font-style: italic">und</strong> and <strong style="font-style: italic">oder</strong> (when they connect two clauses):
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ich <span class="green_emphasis">hörte</span> einfach <span class="green_emphasis">zu</span> <span class="in_word_highlight">und</span> verhielt mich ruhig. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I just listened and kept quiet.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Kommst</span> du <span class="green_emphasis">rein</span> <span class="in_word_highlight">oder</span> nicht? (<span style="font-style: italic;">Are you coming in or not?</span>)</div>
</li>
<li>the <strong>"zu + infinitive"</strong> structure:
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Immer, wenn jemand an die Tür klopft, <span class="green_emphasis">fängt</span> mein Hund <span class="green_emphasis">an</span> <span class="in_word_highlight">zu bellen</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Whenever someone knocks on the door, my dog starts barking.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Sie <span class="green_emphasis">hören</span> nicht <span class="green_emphasis">auf</span> <span class="in_word_highlight">anzurufen</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">They won't stop calling.</span>)</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<p>When used in a <strong>dependent (or subordinate) clause</strong>, the prefix remains attached to the original verb. Conjugated verb forms are always at the end in dependent clauses:</p>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ich will nicht, <span class="in_word_highlight">dass</span> unser Kind hier <span class="green_emphasis">aufwächst</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I don't want our child to grow up here.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Warte bitte, <span class="in_word_highlight">bis</span> ich <span class="green_emphasis">zurückkomme</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Please wait until I come back.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Es ist mir egal, <span class="in_word_highlight">was</span> du morgen <span class="green_emphasis">vorhast</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I don't care what you're going to do tomorrow.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Er ist ein Mann, <span class="in_word_highlight">mit dem</span> man schwer <span class="green_emphasis">zurechtkommt</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">He's a hard man to get along with.</span>)</div>
</li>
<li>
<p>In the "zu + infinitive" structure, the prefix remains attached to the original verb and <strong><span style="font-style: italic;">zu</span> is inserted</strong> between them: </p>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Maria flehte mich an <span class="green_emphasis">mitzukommen</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Maria begged me to come with her.</span>)</div>
</li>
<li>
<p>The <strong>-ge- infix</strong> appears between the prefix and the original verb in the <span style="font-style: italic;">Partizip</span> (past participle) form of the verb:</p>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Der Zug aus Paris ist soeben <span class="green_emphasis">an<span class="in_word_highlight">ge</span>kommen</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">The train from Paris has just arrived.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Haben Sie darüber <span class="green_emphasis">nach<span class="in_word_highlight">ge</span>dacht</span>? (<span style="font-style: italic;">Did you think about it?</span>)</div>
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<li>
The <strong>stress falls on the prefix</strong> when the verb is spoken.
</li>
</ul>