Separable Verbs
opstaan → Ek staan elke dag vroeg op. (I get up early every day.) The verb is second; the prefix is last.
How It Works
Common separable verbs. The prefix is often a small word like op, aan, af, in, uit, oor, terug, toe, weg, saam or oop:
- opstaan (get up), aantrek (put on), aankom (arrive)
- uitgaan (go out), terugkom (come back), weggaan (go away)
- toemaak (close), oopmaak (open), skoonmaak (clean)
The prefix can change the meaning a lot: kom is come, but aankom is arrive; maak is make, but toemaak is close.
Main clauses. The verb takes second place and the prefix goes to the very end: Sy trek haar jas aan. (She puts on her coat.) Die trein kom om vyfuur aan. (The train arrives at five.)
Questions and commands. Wanneer kom jy terug? (When are you coming back?) Maak die deur toe! (Close the door!) See imperative.
Negation. The prefix comes just before the final nie: Ek staan nie vroeg op nie.
After a modal. The verb goes to the end as one word: Ek moet vroeg opstaan. See Modal Verb Word Order.
Other forms of the same verb.
- Past: ge- goes inside: Ek het vroeg opgestaan. See ge- inside separable verbs.
- With om te: te goes inside: om op te staan. See te inside separable verbs.
- In a subordinate clause the verb stays whole: ... omdat ek vroeg opstaan. See separable verb in subordinate clause.
Stressed or not? Some prefixes, such as oor- and deur-, can also be unstressed, and then the verb never splits. See separable and inseparable prefixes.
Examples (6)
- Ek staan elke dag om sesuur op.
I get up at six every day.
Word by Word: I stand every day at six up.
From opstaan. The prefix op closes the sentence.
- Sy trek haar jas aan.
She puts on her coat.
Word by Word: She pulls her coat on.
- Maak asseblief die deur toe.
Please close the door.
Word by Word: Make please the door closed.
In a command the verb comes first and the prefix still goes to the end.
- Wanneer kom jy terug?
When are you coming back?
Word by Word: When come you back?
- Die trein kom nie betyds aan nie.
The train isn't arriving on time.
Word by Word: The train comes not on-time on not.
The prefix aan comes just before the final nie.
- Ek moet môre vroeg opstaan.
I have to get up early tomorrow.
Word by Word: I must tomorrow early up-stand.
After a modal, the verb stays in one piece at the end.
Common Mistakes
Keeping the verb in one piece when it is the only verb.
Ek opstaan elke dag vroeg.Ek staan elke dag vroeg op.In a main clause without another verb, the prefix splits off and goes to the end.
Putting the prefix right after the verb instead of at the end.
Maak toe die deur!Maak die deur toe!The prefix goes to the end of the clause, after the object.
Splitting the verb after a modal.
Ek moet môre vroeg staan op.Ek moet môre vroeg opstaan.When a modal is in second place, the separable verb goes to the end as one word.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Separable verbs split, with the small first part going to the end of the clause.
Related Patterns
- Participles of Separable Verbs
Shows how separable verbs form the past: opgestaan.
Level 2 - te Inside Separable Verbs
With om te, te goes between the prefix and the verb: om op te staan.
Level 3 - Separable Verbs at the End
In a subordinate clause the verb stays whole at the end.
Level 3 - Modal Verb Word Order
After a modal, the separable verb goes to the end in one piece.
Level 1 - oorsteek or oortree?
Some prefixes can be separable or not, depending on stress.
Level 4 - Commands
Commands with separable verbs put the prefix at the end: Staan op!
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice Separable Verbs in Bubblegum
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