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    German Inseparable Prefixes

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    1) Inseparable prefixes are prefixes that are never detached from the verb root in any tense or conjugated form. Common inseparable prefixes include be-, ent-, er-, ge-, miss-, ver-, and zer-. 2) These prefixes generally convey meanings like causing an action, completing an action, escaping from something, or destroying something. For example, "ver" can indicate completion or excess, while "ent" often corresponds to "un-", "de-", or "dis-". 3) Approximately 45% of all inseparable prefix verbs begin with "ver-", while around 25% start with "be-", 15% with "ent-", and 10% with "er-". Other prefixes like "miss

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    German Inseparable Prefixes

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    1) Inseparable prefixes are prefixes that are never detached from the verb root in any tense or conjugated form. Common inseparable prefixes include be-, ent-, er-, ge-, miss-, ver-, and zer-. 2) These prefixes generally convey meanings like causing an action, completing an action, escaping from something, or destroying something. For example, "ver" can indicate completion or excess, while "ent" often corresponds to "un-", "de-", or "dis-". 3) Approximately 45% of all inseparable prefix verbs begin with "ver-", while around 25% start with "be-", 15% with "ent-", and 10% with "er-". Other prefixes like "miss

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    1) Inseparable prefixes are prefixes that are never detached from the verb root in any tense or conjugated form. Common inseparable prefixes include be-, ent-, er-, ge-, miss-, ver-, and zer-. 2) These prefixes generally convey meanings like causing an action, completing an action, escaping from something, or destroying something. For example, "ver" can indicate completion or excess, while "ent" often corresponds to "un-", "de-", or "dis-". 3) Approximately 45% of all inseparable prefix verbs begin with "ver-", while around 25% start with "be-", 15% with "ent-", and 10% with "er-". Other prefixes like "miss

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    53 views2 pages

    German Inseparable Prefixes

    Uploaded by

    b
    1) Inseparable prefixes are prefixes that are never detached from the verb root in any tense or conjugated form. Common inseparable prefixes include be-, ent-, er-, ge-, miss-, ver-, and zer-. 2) These prefixes generally convey meanings like causing an action, completing an action, escaping from something, or destroying something. For example, "ver" can indicate completion or excess, while "ent" often corresponds to "un-", "de-", or "dis-". 3) Approximately 45% of all inseparable prefix verbs begin with "ver-", while around 25% start with "be-", 15% with "ent-", and 10% with "er-". Other prefixes like "miss

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as pdf or txt
    of 2

    Inseparable prefixes

    Inseparable prefix verbs are verbs whose initial syllable is never detached from the verb root in any tense or
    conjugated form. These are always unstressed syllables and usually, though not always, are morphemes (i.e.
    units of meaning) that cannot stand as separate words. Prefixes that are always inseparable are: be-, emp-,
    ent-, er-, ge-, miss-, ver-, & zer-. The most common of these is ver-.

    Though the meanings of these prefixes are not fixed, they encompass a range of connotations that can be
    described in general categories. These delineations are not exhaustive and do not include every possible
    meaning of a prefix, but can be helpful in understanding the gist of a verb.

    Prefix Meaning Examples


    be- 1) Makes intransitive verbs or verbs with zaubern - to do magic | bezaubern - to enchant
    prepositional objects transitive, or shifts the Ich beantworte die Frage. (Ich antworte auf die Frage.)
    action to a different object. Er beschenkt Sie. ( Er schenkt Ihnen etwas.)
    2) Added to nouns to create verbs with the idea die Nachricht message | benachrichtigento notify
    of providing something. (Often -ig- is added.) die Waffe weapon | bewaffnento arm
    3) Added to adjectives to create verbs with the ruhig quiet, still | beruhigento calm
    idea of bestowing that quality. (Often -ig- is taub numb | betäubento numb, drug
    added.) trüb dreary | betrübento sadden
    Note: Approximately 25% of all inseparable prefix verbs begin with be-.
    ent- 1) Added to verbs to convey the idea of fliehen to flee | entfliehento escape, flee (from)
    escaping or moving away. kommen to come | entkommento escape, come away (from)
    2) Creates verbs from nouns, adjectives, or laden to load | entladento unload
    verbs. Indicates the removal of something. decken to cover | entdeckento discover
    fern far | entfernento remove, delete
    ent- often corresponds to English un-, de- or die Fessel chain | entfesselnto unchain
    dis-.
    Note: Approximately 15% of all inseparable prefix verbs begin with ent-.
    emp- A variation of ent- that is used before some fehlen to be lacking | empfehlento recommend
    verb roots beginning with f. finden to find | empfindento perceive, sense
    er- 1) Creates verbs from nouns or other verbs. finden to find | erfindento invent
    Conveys the conclusion or end achievement of lernen to learn | erlernento learn, acquire
    an action. trinken to drink | ertrinkento drown
    2) Creates verbs from adjectives. Conveys the ganz whole | ergänzento complete
    idea of becoming something or giving niedrig low | erniedrigento humiliate
    something a quality. Often adds an umlaut to neu new | erneuernto renew, revive
    the root, where possible.
    Note: Approximately 10% of all inseparable prefix verbs begin with er-.
    ge- ge- is rare as a verb prefix. It carries no distinct fallen to fall | gefallento be pleasing
    meaning. In many instances, the root verb is --- | geschehen to occur
    linguistically extinct. --- | gelingen to succeed
    miss- Like the English prefix mis-, the German miss- -- | misslingento fail
    indicates failure. It creates a verb that stands as fallen to fall | missfallento displease
    a negative opposite to its positive or neutral billigen to approve | missbilligento disapprove
    root. handeln to act | misshandelnto maltreat, abuse
    ver- 1) Added to verbs to express idea of brennen to burn | verbrennenburn (to ashes, to death), scorch
    completion, waning, or going away. hungern to be hungry | verhungernto starve
    geben to give | vergebento give away
    jagen to hunt | verjagento chase away
    2) Added to verbs to express the idea of doing lernen to learn | verlernento unlearn, forget
    something to excess or wrongly, or to convey führen to lead | verführento seduce
    the opposite meaning from its root. achten to esteem | verachtento despise
    bergen to salvage | verbergento conceal, hide
    3) Creates verbs from adjectives or nouns that Deutsch | verdeutschento translate into German
    convey the idea of becoming something or der Stein stone | versteinernto turn to stone
    giving something a quality. die Ursache cause | verursachento cause
    einfach simple | vereinfachento simplify
    deutlich clear | verdeutlichento elucidate
    4) Creates verbs from nouns to convey the idea das Silber silver | versilbernto silver plate
    of providing something. der Körper body | verkörpernto embody
    Note: Approximately 45% of all inseparable prefix verbs begin with ver-.
    zer- Creates verbs from nouns, adjectives, or other das Glied member, limb | zergliedernto dismember
    verbs to indicate destruction, usually "into klein small | zerkleinernto reduce to small bits
    pieces". stören to bother | zerstörento destroy
    teilen to divide | zerteilento disperse

    There are a handful of prefixes which may be separable or inseparable. These include: durch-, über-, um-,
    and unter-.

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