German separable verbs: aufstehen, einkaufen, fernsehen — where the prefix goes
In a main clause, a separable German verb splits: the conjugated stem stays in second position and the prefix jumps to the end of the sentence.
Many German verbs have a separable prefix — a little word (auf-, ein-, an-, mit-, fern-, zu-) glued to the front of the infinitive. In the dictionary you see them joined: aufstehen (to get up), einkaufen (to shop), fernsehen (to watch TV).
But in a normal main clause the verb splits in two. The conjugated part sits in position 2; the prefix flies to the very end.
| Infinitive | Main clause |
|---|---|
| aufstehen | Ich stehe um sieben auf. |
| einkaufen | Wir kaufen heute ein. |
| fernsehen | Er sieht am Abend fern. |
Not every prefix separates. The prefixes ver-, be-, er- (and ge-, ent-, emp-) are inseparable and never move: Ich verstehe das — never versteh… ver.
Tip: if you can stress the prefix (AUFstehen), it separates. If the stress is on the stem (verSTEHen), it stays put.
Examples
Grammatical analysisBase form ichCaseNominativ (nominative)NumberSingular (singular)Person1st person singular (ich)Checked deterministically before build Grammatical analysisBase form stehenPerson1st person singular (ich)TensePräsens (present)Checked deterministically before build um sieben Uhr auf.
I get up at seven o'clock.
Grammatical analysisBase form wirCaseNominativ (nominative)NumberPlural (plural)Person1st person plural (wir)Checked deterministically before build kaufen heute im Supermarkt ein.
We are shopping in the supermarket today.
Am Abend Grammatical analysisBase form sehenPerson3rd person singular (er/sie/es)TensePräsens (present)Checked deterministically before build Grammatical analysisBase form derCaseNominativ (nominative)Gendermaskulin (masculine)NumberSingular (singular)Checked deterministically before build Grammatical analysisBase form VaterCaseNominativ (nominative)Gendermaskulin (masculine)NumberSingular (singular)Checked deterministically before build fern.
In the evening the father watches TV.
Grammatical analysisBase form ichCaseNominativ (nominative)NumberSingular (singular)Person1st person singular (ich)Checked deterministically before build Grammatical analysisBase form verstehenPerson1st person singular (ich)TensePräsens (present)Checked deterministically before build das Buch nicht.
I don't understand the book.
Common mistakes
In a main clause the verb must split: the conjugated stem *stehe* goes to position 2 and the prefix *auf* goes to the very end. Keeping *aufstehe* together (as in the infinitive) is the classic beginner error.
*verstehen* has the inseparable prefix *ver-*, so nothing moves to the end — there is no stray prefix. Don't treat *ver-/be-/er-* verbs like separable ones.
*fernsehen* is separable, so in a main clause it becomes *sieht … fern*. Leaving it fused as *fernsieht* copies the infinitive spelling and is wrong.
Related topics
Practice
Ich ___ um sieben Uhr auf.
Der Zug ___ um neun Uhr ab.
Wir ___ am Abend Freunde ein.