Inseparable Prefixes

be-

• verb has an accusative

• antworten (auf) – to answer to

• kämpfen (gegen) – to fight against

• sprechen (über) – to talk about

• beantworten – to answer

• bekämpfen – to fight against

• besprechen – to discuss

(weiter)

• **may change the meaning of the verb**

• kommen• sitzen• suchen

• bekommen• besitzen (to own)• besuchen

(mehr)

• **creates verbs from nouns and adjectives**

• der Freund• richtig• ruhig

• befreunden• berichtigen (to correct)• beruhigen (to calm)

ent-• expresses separation/ removal• equivalent to de- (detach), dis-

(disconnect), un- (undo)

das Fett (fat, grease)die Kraft (strength)fern (far)heilig (holy, sacred)decken (to cover)falten (to fold)kommen (to come)

• entfetten – remove the fat• entkräften – to weaken• entfernen – to remove• entheiligen – to desecrate• entdecken – to discover• entfalten – to unfold• entkommen – to escape

er-converts adjectives to verbs

• hell (bright)• hoch (high)• möglich (possible)

• erhellen (to lighten)• erhöhen (to heighten)• ermöglichen (to make

possible)

er-changes the meaning of root verbs to imply successful completion

• arbeiten• finden• raten (to guess)

• erarbeiten – to obtain through work

• erfinden – to invent• erraten – to guess

correctly

er-certain verbs = fatal

• schießen

• schlagen • stechen (to stab/pierce)

• trinken

• erschießen – to shoot fatally

• erschlagen – to slay• erstechen – to stab to

death• ertrinken – to drown

hinter-emphasize behind, like “leave behind”

• hinterlassen• hinterlegen

• leave behind• put down (like rent)

hinter-behind as in a façade or someone’s back

• hinterfragen

• hintergehen

• investigated/called into question

• deceived

miss-done falsely or wrong (mis/dis)

• deuten – to interpret

• gefallen – to be pleasing

• handeln – to act (upon)

• trauen – to trust• verstehen – to

understand

• missdeuten – misinterpret

• misgefallen – to displease

• misshandeln – to mistreat

• misstrauen – to distrust

• missverstehen – to misunderstand

ver-the verb is being done incorrectly

• fahren

• führen• laufen

• legen• rechnen

• sprechen

• sich verfahren – to drive in the wrong direction

• verführen – to lead astray• sich verlaufen – to get

lost (by foot)• verlegen – to misplace• sich verrechnen –

miscalculate• sich versprechen – to

misspeak

ver-continues until something is used up or destroyed

• brauchen• brennen• fallen• gehen

• schwinden – to dwindle

• spielen

• verbrauchen – to use up• verbrennen – to burn up• verfallen – to fall into ruin• vergehen – to pass/fade

away (time)• verschwinden – to

disappear• verspielen – to gamble

away

ver-conveys the sense of “away”

• jagen – to chase

• reisen – to travel

• schenken – to give as a gift

• treiben – to drive

• verjagen – to chase away

• verreisen – to go away on a trip

• verschenken – to give away

• vertreiben – to drive (someone) away

ver-intensifies, refines, alters the action of the root verb

• bergen – to hide/cover• gleichen – to resemble

• urteilen – to judge

• zweifeln – to doubt

• verbergen – to hide• vergleichen – to

compare• verurteilen – to

condemn• verzweifeln – to despair

ver-converts adjectives/adverbs/nouns to verbs

• anders• besser• größer

• länger

• mehr• nicht• die Ursache (cause)

• verändern – to change• verbessern – to improve• vergrößer – to make

bigger, enlarge• verlänger – to make

longer, lengthen• vermehren – to increase• vernichten – to

annihilate• verursachen – to cause

zer-indicates destruction/dissolution through the action of the verb

• brechen

• fallen• gehen

• legen• reißen• stören – disturb

• zerbrechen – shatter into pieces

• zerfallen – fall to pieces• zergehen – dissolve (in a

liquid)• zerlegen - disassemble• zerreißen – tear to

pieces• zerstören - to destroy