A2 Elementary

Trennbare Verben (separable verbs)

Many verbs have a prefix that splits off, like aufstehen, einkaufen, and anrufen. In a main clause, the verb is in position 2 and the prefix goes to the end: Ich stehe um sieben auf. In the Perfekt, ge goes between the prefix and the verb: aufgestanden. With modal verbs and in subordinate clauses, the verb stays together: Ich muss früh aufstehen.

Pattern

verb (position 2) … prefix (end) · Perfekt: prefix + ge + verb (eingekauft)

Common mistake

Keeping the prefix on the verb in a main clause.

Ich anrufe dich morgen.

Ich rufe dich morgen an.

Quick check

Der Zug ______ um 10 Uhr in München an.
kommt · ankommt · kommen
Show answer
kommt — ankommen splits: kommt is in position 2, an goes to the end.
Wann stehst du morgen ______?
an · aus · auf
Show answer
auf — aufstehen means to get up; the prefix auf goes to the end.
Wir müssen heute noch ______.
kaufen ein · einkaufen · einkaufst
Show answer
einkaufen — After a modal verb, the separable verb stays together at the end.

Stories that practice it

MorgenleseNr. 18

Das neue Smartphone

A2Technology · 3 min

Mark wants to buy a new smartphone and is looking for the best deal. Then his old phone rings.

Trennbare Verben (separable verbs) · 8 new words

MorgenleseNr. 38

Der Campingurlaub

A2Travel · 4 min

Giulia and Marko have never been camping. Their first tent takes two hours to put up – and then the night rain begins.

Perfekt (present perfect) · Trennbare Verben (separable verbs) · 7 new words

MorgenleseNr. 42

Der erste Arbeitstag

A2Work · 4 min

It's Jonas's first day at a new job, and he is very nervous. In the office kitchen he meets a woman who has a problem with the coffee machine.

Trennbare Verben (separable verbs) · Nebensatz (subordinate clause) · 7 new words

MorgenleseNr. 46

Der fremde Hund

A2Comedy · 4 min

After the Saturday market, a brown dog follows Lukas all through town. Lukas is sure he has found a new best friend.

Trennbare Verben (separable verbs) · Nebensatz (subordinate clause) · 6 new words

MorgenleseNr. 50

Der Friseurtermin

A2Comedy · 3 min

Jakub only wants his hair a little shorter. He falls asleep in the chair – and wakes up with a haircut he would rather hide under a hat.

Perfekt (present perfect) · Trennbare Verben (separable verbs) · 7 new words

MorgenleseNr. 58

Der Kuchen für die Nachbarn

A2Food · 3 min

Zeynep has just moved in and bakes an apple cake to meet her new neighbours. They eat every crumb – but they are strangely quiet.

Trennbare Verben (separable verbs) · Perfekt (present perfect) · 7 new words

MorgenleseNr. 66

Der Stadtlauf

A2Sports · 3 min

Petra is fifty-two and runs her very first city race. After two minutes, she can only see the other runners' backs.

Perfekt (present perfect) · Trennbare Verben (separable verbs) · 6 new words

MorgenleseNr. 70

Der Staubsaugerroboter

A2Technology · 4 min

Dragana and Yusuf love their new robot vacuum – until their socks start to disappear. Yusuf has a suspect, and a plan to catch it.

Trennbare Verben (separable verbs) · Nebensatz (subordinate clause) · 7 new words

MorgenleseNr. 74

Der Umzug

A2Daily life · 3 min

Jonas moves into a fourth-floor flat with the help of two friends. He didn't write anything on the boxes – what could go wrong?

Trennbare Verben (separable verbs) · Perfekt (present perfect) · 6 new words

MorgenleseNr. 78

Der vergessliche Einkauf

A2Food · 2 min

Tom goes shopping with a long list but forgets something important. How will he solve the problem?

Trennbare Verben (separable verbs) · 8 new words

MorgenleseNr. 94

Die Fernbedienung

A2Relationships · 3 min

Tim and his sister Anna share a flat, a TV and one remote control – and they fight over it every evening. Then one day the remote is gone.

Trennbare Verben (separable verbs) · 6 new words

MorgenleseNr. 106

Die Smartwatch

A2Technology · 3 min

Mr Wolf gets a smartwatch for his sixtieth birthday. He doesn't like it at first – it keeps telling him what to do.

Dativ (dative case) · Trennbare Verben (separable verbs) · 7 new words

MorgenleseNr. 110

Die Waschmaschine

A2Daily life · 4 min

Zeynep only went out for bread rolls – and came back to a flooded bathroom. Then the grumpy neighbour from downstairs rings the bell.

Perfekt (present perfect) · Trennbare Verben (separable verbs) · 6 new words

MorgenleseNr. 134

Homeoffice mit Kindern

A2Work · 4 min

Sandra has an important video call with her strict boss. On top she wears a nice blouse, underneath her pyjama bottoms – what could go wrong?

Trennbare Verben (separable verbs) · 7 new words

MorgenleseNr. 142

Kochen mit Papa

A2Food · 4 min

Dad wants to cook sarma, his favourite dish from childhood, for his German colleagues. Soon the whole kitchen is in chaos.

Trennbare Verben (separable verbs) · Dativ (dative case) · 7 new words

MorgenleseNr. 146

Opas achtzigster Geburtstag

A2Relationships · 4 min

Ewa is planning a secret party for her father's eightieth birthday. Everything is going to plan – until a key turns in the door far too early.

Dativ (dative case) · Trennbare Verben (separable verbs) · 7 new words