Perfekt with Separable & Inseparable Verbs

German has many verbs with prefixes — small additions at the beginning that modify the verb's meaning. These prefixes fall into two categories: separable and inseparable. How the prefix behaves directly affects how the past participle is formed in the Perfekt.

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Separable Verbs (Trennbare Verben)

What Are Separable Verbs?

Separable verbs have a prefix that detaches from the verb in main clauses. In the present tense, the prefix goes to the end of the clause:

• aufstehen (to get up): Ich stehe um 7 Uhr auf.
• einkaufen (to shop): Sie kauft im Supermarkt ein.
• anrufen (to call): Er ruft seine Mutter an.

Common Separable Prefixes