Separable Verbs
Many verbs have a stressed prefix that splits off: opstoen (to get up) → Ech stinn um siwen Auer op; zoumaachen (to close) → Maach d'Dier zou!
How It Works
Common separable prefixes
They are stressed and often look like prepositions or adverbs: op (opstoen, opmaachen), zou (zoumaachen), mat (matkommen, mathuelen), aus (ausmaachen), of (ofhuelen), fort (fortgoen), eran (erakommen), and un and an, which follow the n-rule: see u- and a- prefixes.
Where the prefix goes
- Statement: Ech stinn um siwen Auer op.
- Question: Kënns du mat? (Are you coming along?)
- Command: Maach d'Dier zou! – see commands
When it stays attached
- After a modal verb: Ech kann net matkommen. – see modal + infinitive
- In the participle, with ge- in the middle: opgestanen – see separable participles
- At the end of a subordinate clause: ..., well ech fréi opstinn – see separable verbs in subordinate clauses
- With ze: matzekommen – see separable verbs with ze
Not every prefix separates
Unstressed prefixes such as be-, ver- and er- never split: Ech verstinn dech. See inseparable prefixes.
Examples (6)
- Ech stinn um siwen Auer op.
I get up at seven o'clock.
Word by Word: I stand at-the seven o'clock up.
Opstoen splits: stinn is second and op goes to the end.
- Maach d'Dier zou, wannechgelift!
Close the door, please!
Word by Word: Make the door shut, please!
In a command the verb comes first and zou goes to the end of the clause.
- Kënns du mat an de Kino?
Are you coming along to the cinema?
Word by Word: Come you along into the cinema?
Mat belongs to matkommen. A short phrase like an de Kino can follow the prefix.
- Den Zuch kënnt um aacht Auer zu Lëtzebuerg un.
The train arrives in Luxembourg at eight o'clock.
Word by Word: The train comes at eight o'clock in Luxembourg on.
Ukommen means to arrive. Its prefix un goes to the very end.
- Huel de Prabbeli mat, et reent!
Take the umbrella with you, it's raining!
Word by Word: Take the umbrella along, it rains!
Mathuelen means to take along. Prabbeli is the everyday word for umbrella.
- Ech kann haut net matkommen.
I can't come along today.
Word by Word: I can today not along-come.
After a modal verb the infinitive stays in one piece at the end.
Common Mistakes
Leaving the prefix attached in a main clause.
Ech opstinn um siwen Auer.Ech stinn um siwen Auer op.When a separable verb is conjugated in a main clause, the prefix must split off and go to the end.
Putting the prefix right after the verb instead of at the end.
Ech stinn op um siwen Auer.Ech stinn um siwen Auer op.The prefix closes the clause, so time and other details come before it.
Splitting the verb after a modal verb.
Ech kann net kommen mat.Ech kann net matkommen.After a modal verb the separable verb is an infinitive, so it stays in one word at the end.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Separable Verbs, learn Present Tense Endings and The Verb Comes Second.
Related Patterns
- Separable Prefixes un- / u- and an- / a-Separable Prefixes Un- and an-
Un- and an- are separable prefixes that also follow the n-rule.
Level 2 - Participles of Separable Verbs
In the participle, ge- goes between the prefix and the verb: opgestanen.
Level 2 - Separable Verbs Join Up at the End
In a subordinate clause the prefix and the verb join up again at the end.
Level 3 - ze Inside Separable Verbs
With ze, the three parts are written as one word: matzekommen.
Level 3 - Inseparable Prefixes: be- / ver- / er- / ent- / zer-Prefixes That Never Separate: Be-, Ver-, Er-, Ent-, Zer-
Be-, ver-, er-, ent- and zer- never separate from the verb.
Level 3 - Commands to One Friend
In a command the prefix goes to the end: Maach d'Dier zou!
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
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