Learning German can feel like a puzzle, but some pieces are very fun! Today, we look at separable verbs (trennbare Verben). This is a very important topic for the German A1 level.
What are Separable Verbs? (Trennbare Verben)
In German, some verbs have two parts: a prefix (the front part) and a verb stem (the main verb).
When you make a simple sentence, the two parts separate!
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The main verb stays in position 2.
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The prefix goes to the very end of the sentence.
4 Common A1 Verbs You Need to Know
Here is a simple list of easy German verbs with their parts separated:
1. anrufen (to call on the phone)
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Verb: rufen / Prefix: an
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Sentence: Ich rufe dich an.
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English: I call you.
2. einkaufen (to shop)
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Verb: kaufen / Prefix: ein
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Sentence: Ich kaufe im Supermarkt ein.
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English: I shop at the supermarket.
3. aufstehen (to get up / stand up)
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Verb: stehen / Prefix: auf
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Sentence: Wir stehen früh auf.
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English: We get up early.
4. fernsehen (to watch TV)
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Verb: sehen / Prefix: fern
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Sentence: Sie sehen heute fern.
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English: They watch TV today.
Easy German A1 Grammar Chart
| Infinitiv (Verb) | Position 2 (Main Verb) | End of Sentence (Prefix) | English Meaning |
| anrufen | ich rufe | … an. | I call. |
| einkaufen | ich kaufe | … ein. | I shop. |
| aufstehen | wir stehen | … auf. | We get up. |
| fernsehen | sie sehen | … fern. | They watch TV. |
Summary for Beginners
Remember the golden rule for German A1: Put the small prefix at the very end of your sentence! Not all German verbs do this, but words starting with an-, ein-, auf-, and fern- are almost always separable.