It's a typical characteristic in German language: you can add prefixes to many verbs and then the verbs get new meanings. In German these verbs are called 'Trennbare Verben'.
The separable verbs usually come with the following prefixes:
ab-, aus-, an-, auf-, bei-, ein-, fern-, fort-, hin-, her-, los-, mit-, nach-, weg-, um-, vor-, zu-, zurück-
General rules:
1) In present tense, these prefixes are separated from the original verbs and are placed at the end of the sentence.
Ich stehe jeden Tag um 7.00 Uhr auf – I get up everyday at 7:00.
Der Film fängt um 20:00 Uhr an – The film begins at 20:00.
Verbs used in the examples: aufstehen (to get up) and anfangen (to begin)
2) In past participle, 'ge' is added between the prefix and the verb.
Ich bin heute um 7:00 Uhr aufgestanden – I got up today at 7:00.
Der Film hat schon um 20:00 Uhr angefangen – The film has already started at 20:00.
3) However, when used with modal verbs (dürfen, können, mögen, müssen, sollen and wollen), prefixes are not separated from the main verb rather remain attached with it.
Er muss jeden Tag um 7.00 Uhr aufstehen – He has to get up everyday at 7:00.
Der Film sollte um 20:00 Uhr anfangen - The film should start at 20:00.
Most commonly used separable verbs in German
ab = off, down
abfahren - to leave, to depart
absagen - to cancel something (e.g. a concert)
Ex: Die Sängerin ist krank und sagt ihr Konzert ab – The singer is sick and cancels her concert.
abbrechen - to break something off
abnehmen - to decrease, to loose (weight)
abbiegen – to turn, to bend
Ex: An der Kreuzung müssen Sie rechts abbiegen - At the crossing you must turn right
abschaffen - to do away with something
an = at, on
anziehen - to put something on, to dress
anzeigen - to report, to show something
anrufen - to telephone someone
anfassen - to touch someone or something
anhalten - to stop somethiing
anfangen - to begin something
ankommen - to arrive
angreifen - to attack
auf = up, open
aufstehen – to get up
aufhören – to stop
aufmachen - to open
aufpassen - to take care of someone or something
aufräumen - to clean up
aufbauen - to build up (e.g. business)
aus = out
aussteigen - to get out of something (e.g. bus)
ausgehen - to go out (e.g. with friends)
ausschließen - to exclude
ausgleichen - to balance something
bei = with, along
beitragen - to contribute something
beibehalten - to retain somethiing
beiliegen - to be attached to something
ein = in, into
einsteigen - to get in (e.g. into bus)
einladen - to invite
einkaufen - to shop
einatmen - to inhale
einschlafen - to fall asleep
einzahlen - to deposit something (e.g. to deposit money in bank)
einleiten - to initiate something (e.g. to initiate an investigation)
einschreiben - to inscribe, to enlist, to register (e.g. a post)
einklammern - to put in brackets
fern = far
fernsehen - to watch television
fort = away
fortsetzen - to continue
fortfahren - to continue, to go on
fortlaufen - to run away
fortgehen - to leave, to depart
hin = to there
hinfallen – to fall down, to tumble
hinlegen - to lay down
hinstellen - to place, put
hinfahren - to drive someone or something there
her = to here
herkommen - to come here
herstellen - to manufacture something
herfahren - to drive here
los = off, away (usually indicates the beginning of an action)
loslassen - to let go
losfahren - to start
losgehen - to go off
Lyrics from German Singer Roland Kaiser: Ich glaub' es geht schon wieder los - I think it's going to happen all over again.
mit = with, along
mitmachen - to participate
mitbringen - to bring along
mitfahren - to ride (with someone)
mitkommen - to come along
mitnehmen - to take along
mitspielen - to play along
nach = after
nachfragen - to inquire
nachdenken – to think (usually about something)
nachforschen to investigate, to research
nachfolgen – to follow, to succeed
um = around, at
umbringen - to kill, to murder
umziehen - to move (e.g. to a new home or town)
umsteigen – to change (trains)
umrechnen – to convert
vor = before
vorstellen - to introduce
vorlesen – to read something aloud
vorgehen – to proceed, to go ahead
vorspielen - to play music (in front of people)
weg = away
weggehen - to go away
weglaufen - to run away
wegfahren - to drive off, to go away
wegschmeißen - to throw away
zu = to, closed
zulassen – to allow something
zunehmen- to increase, to gain (weight)
zugreifen – to access something
zugeben – to confess, to admit
zurück = back
zurückgeben - to give back
zurückgehen - to go back
zurückweisen - to refuse (e.g. an invitation)
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