This introduction covers Trennbare Verben — Verbs That Split Apart within Separable verbs and the verb bracket for GCSE German. Revise Separable verbs and the verb bracket in The Core German Verbs and the Present Tense for GCSE German with 10 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 1 of 4 in this topic. Use this introduction to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
🔀 Trennbare Verben — Verbs That Split Apart
Separable verbs are verbs with a prefix that detaches and moves to the END of the sentence in the present tense. This is one of the features that makes German sentences look so different from English — and it is one of the most heavily tested structures at GCSE. Master the split pattern and you gain marks in reading, listening, and writing in one go.
Practice questions for Separable verbs and the verb bracket
In a present-tense main clause, where does the separable prefix go?
Complete the sentence: 'Ich ___ um 7 Uhr ___.' (I get up at 7 o'clock.) — from 'aufstehen'.
Quick recall flashcards
anrufen
to call / phone — separable (an- + rufen); ich rufe an / du rufst an / er ruft an. Example: Ich rufe meine Mutter an. (I am calling my mother.) Note: die Mutter, die Mütter. Uses haben in perfect tense: Ich habe meine Mutter angerufen.
ausgehen
to go out — separable (aus- + gehen); ich gehe aus / du gehst aus / er geht aus. Example: Wir gehen am Freitagabend aus. (We go out on Friday evening.) Uses sein in perfect tense: Wir sind ausgegangen.