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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 1) Makes intransitive verbs or verbs with prepositional objects transitive, or shifts the action to a different object. 2) Added to nouns to create verbs with the idea of providing something. (Often -ig- is added.) 3) Added to adjectives to create verbs with the idea of bestowing that quality. (Often -ig- is added.) Examples zaubern - to do magic | bezaubern - to enchant Ich beantworte die Frage. (Ich antworte auf die Frage.) Er beschenkt Sie. ( Er schenkt Ihnen etwas.) die Nachricht message | benachrichtigento notify die Waffe weapon | bewaffnento arm ruhig quiet, still | beruhigento calm taub numb | betubento numb, drug trb dreary | betrbento sadden fliehen to flee | entfliehento escape, flee (from) kommen to come | entkommento escape, come away (from) laden to load | entladento unload decken to cover | entdeckento discover fern far | entfernento remove, delete die Fessel chain | entfesselnto unchain

be-

Note: Approximately 25% of all inseparable prefix verbs begin with be-.

ent-

1) Added to verbs to convey the idea of escaping or moving away. 2) Creates verbs from nouns, adjectives, or verbs. Indicates the removal of something. ent- often corresponds to English un-, de- or dis-.

Note: Approximately 15% of all inseparable prefix verbs begin with ent-.

emper-

A variation of ent- that is used before some verb roots beginning with f. 1) Creates verbs from nouns or other verbs. Conveys the conclusion or end achievement of an action. 2) Creates verbs from adjectives. Conveys the idea of becoming something or giving something a quality. Often adds an umlaut to the root, where possible.

fehlen to be lacking | empfehlento recommend finden to find | empfindento perceive, sense finden to find | erfindento invent lernen to learn | erlernento learn, acquire trinken to drink | ertrinkento drown ganz whole | ergnzento complete niedrig low | erniedrigento humiliate neu new | erneuernto renew, revive

Note: Approximately 10% of all inseparable prefix verbs begin with er-.

ge- ge- is rare as a verb prefix. It carries no distinct


meaning. In many instances, the root verb is linguistically extinct.

fallen to fall | gefallento be pleasing --- | geschehen to occur --- | gelingen to succeed -- | misslingento fail fallen to fall | missfallento displease billigen to approve | missbilligento disapprove handeln to act | misshandelnto maltreat, abuse brennen to burn | verbrennenburn (to ashes, to death), scorch hungern to be hungry | verhungernto starve geben to give | vergebento give away jagen to hunt | verjagento chase away lernen to learn | verlernento unlearn, forget fhren to lead | verfhrento seduce achten to esteem | verachtento despise bergen to salvage | verbergento conceal, hide Deutsch | verdeutschento translate into German der Stein stone | versteinernto turn to stone

miss- Like the English prefix mis-, the German missindicates failure. It creates a verb that stands as a negative opposite to its positive or neutral root. 1) Added to verbs to express idea of completion, waning, or going away.

ver-

2) Added to verbs to express the idea of doing something to excess or wrongly, or to convey the opposite meaning from its root. 3) Creates verbs from adjectives or nouns that convey the idea of becoming something or

giving something a quality.

die Ursache cause | verursachento cause einfach simple | vereinfachento simplify deutlich clear | verdeutlichento elucidate das Silber silver | versilbernto silver plate der Krper body | verkrpernto embody das Glied member, limb | zergliedernto dismember klein small | zerkleinernto reduce to small bits stren to bother | zerstrento destroy teilen to divide | zerteilento disperse

4) Creates verbs from nouns to convey the idea of providing something.

Note: Approximately 45% of all inseparable prefix verbs begin with ver-.

zer- Creates verbs from nouns, adjectives, or other


verbs to indicate destruction, usually "into pieces".

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

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