Inseparable Verbs (verstehen, beginnen, empfehlen)

While separable verbs split apart when conjugated, inseparable verbs (untrennbare Verben) keep their prefix attached at all times. The prefix is never stressed and never moves to the end of the sentence. Knowing the difference between separable and inseparable prefixes is crucial for correct German.

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The Inseparable Prefixes

There are eight common inseparable prefixes. They must be memorised:

Prefix	Example Verb	English
be-	besuchen	to visit
emp-	empfehlen	to recommend
ent-	entscheiden	to decide
er-	erzählen	to tell/narrate
ge-	gehören	to belong
miss-	missverstehen	to misunderstand
ver-	verstehen	to understand
zer-	zerstören	to destroy

Memory Aid: The mnemonic "Be-Emp-Ent-Er-Ge-Miss-Ver-Zer" covers all eight. Some learners remember it as a sentence fragment: "Be empty, enter, er gets miss very zero."

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How Inseparable Verbs Differ from Separable Verbs