have prefixes that do not separate from the base verb. The verb acts as a single unit in all tenses.
Common Inseparable Prefixes
Here are some of the most common inseparable prefixes:
be-
ge-
emp-
ent-
er-
ver-
zer-
miss-
Examples of Inseparable Verbs
besuchen (to visit): be- + suchen
gefallen (to please): ge- + fallen
empfehlen (to recommend): emp- + fehlen
enthalten (to contain): ent- + halten
erklären (to explain): er- + klären
verkaufen (to sell): ver- + kaufen
zerstören (to destroy): zer- + stören
missverstehen (to misunderstand): miss- + verstehen
Sentence Structure with Inseparable Verbs
In the present, past, and Perfekt tenses, the inseparable verb stays together as a single unit.
Ich besuche meine Freunde. (ihh be-zoo-he mai-ne froin-de) – I visit my friends.
Er erklärte die Situation. (air air-klayr-te dee zee-too-a-tsee-ohn) – He explained the situation.
Wir haben das Haus verkauft. (veer hah-ben das haus fer-kauft) – We have sold the house.
Sie missversteht mich oft. (zee mis-fer-shtate mihh oft) – She often misunderstands me.
Inseparable Verbs in the Perfekt Tense
Because the «ge-” prefix is not added to the past participle of inseparable verbs, you simply use the base verb with its inseparable prefix.
Ich habe meine Freunde besucht. (ihh hah-be mai-ne froin-de be-zooht) – I have visited my friends.
Er hat die Situation erklärt. (air hat dee zee-too-a-tsee-ohn air-klayrt) – He has explained the situation.
Distinguishing Separable and Inseparable Verbs
Unfortunately, there is no simple rule to determine whether a verb is separable or inseparable. You generally have to memorize them. However, there are a few helpful hints:
Prefixes that can also function as prepositions (like an, auf, aus, ein, mit, nach, vor, zu) are often (but not always) separable.
Prefixes that are never prepositions (like be, ge, emp, ent, er, ver, zer, miss) are always inseparable.
The stress pattern can provide a clue: Separable verbs are usually stressed on the prefix, while inseparable verbs are stressed on the verb stem. For example:
AN-kommen (to arrive) – Separable
be-SU-chen (to visit) – Inseparable
Word Bank
trennbar (tren-bar) – separable
untrennbar (oon-tren-bar) – inseparable
abfahren (ahp-fah-ren) – to depart
ankommen (ahn-ko-men) – to arrive
aufmachen (auf-mah-hen) – to open
ausgehen (aus-gay-en) – to go out
einkaufen (ain-kau-fen) – to shop
besuchen (be-zoo-hen) – to visit
erklären (air-klay-ren) – to explain
verkaufen (fer-kau-fen) – to sell
Exercises
Identify whether the following verbs are separable or inseparable: abholen, gefallen, erklären, mitnehmen, besuchen, anfangen, verkaufen, entnehmen.
Conjugate the following separable verbs in the present tense: ankommen, aufmachen, einkaufen.
Conjugate the following inseparable verbs in the present tense: besuchen, erklären, verkaufen.
Translate the following sentences into German, paying attention to separable and inseparable verbs:
I am opening the window.
He explains the situation.
We have visited our friends.
She is shopping today.
They are selling the house.
He is arriving tomorrow.
Rewrite the sentences from Exercise 4 in the Perfekt tense.
That completes Chapter 13! You now have a solid understanding of separable and inseparable verbs, how they function in sentences, and how to identify them. Keep in mind that practice and memorization are key when it comes to mastering these verbs!
Chapter 14: Relative Clauses
Relative clauses are subordinate clauses that provide additional information about a noun in the main clause. They function like adjectives, adding detail and specificity. In this chapter, we’ll learn how to form and use relative clauses in German.
What is a Relative Clause?
A relative clause is a clause that modifies a noun in the main clause. It starts with a relative pronoun (der, die, das, welcher, welche, welches) or a relative adverb (wo, wann, warum).
Relative Pronouns
Relative pronouns connect the relative clause to the main clause and act as the subject, direct object, or indirect object within the relative clause. The relative pronoun must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies (its antecedent) in the main clause. The case of the relative pronoun depends on its function within the relative clause itself.
The most common relative pronouns are derived from the definite articles der, die, das. The case of the relative pronoun depends on what role it plays within the relative clause. Here’s how the form changes:
For masculine nouns:
In the nominative case (when the relative pronoun is the subject of the relative clause), use der.
In the accusative case (when the relative pronoun is the direct object of the relative clause), use den.
In the dative case (when the relative pronoun is the indirect object of the relative clause), use dem.
In the genitive case (when the relative pronoun shows possession), use dessen.
For feminine nouns:
In the nominative case, use die.
In the accusative case, use die.
In the dative case, use der.
In the genitive case, use deren.
For neuter nouns:
In the nominative case, use das.
In the accusative case, use das.
In the dative case, use dem.
In the genitive case, use dessen.
For plural nouns:
In the nominative case, use die.
In the accusative case, use die.
In the dative case, use denen.
In the genitive case, use deren.
Word Order in Relative Clauses
The word order in relative clauses is different from that in main clauses. The conjugated verb always comes at the end of the clause. If there is a helping verb (like in the Perfekt tense) or a modal verb, both verbs are at the end, with the conjugated helping verb or modal verb coming last.
Examples of Relative Clauses
Let’s break down some examples:
Nominative