Inseparable verb prefixes

In brief

Many German verbs begin with a prefix that stays attached to the verb in a sentence. For example, besuchen (to visit) becomes ich besuche and er besucht. You cannot move be- to the end of the sentence. Learn the meaning of the whole verb: a prefix can change the meaning of the base verb in ways that are not always easy to guess.

Form

Inseparable prefix + verb stem: besuchen → ich besuche, du besuchst, er besucht. Common inseparable prefixes include be-, emp-, ent-, er-, ge-, miss-, ver- and zer-.

Usage

• Keep the prefix attached when conjugating the verb: verstehen → wir verstehen.
• Learn the whole verb for its meaning: verstehen means ‘to understand’, while stehen means ‘to stand’.

Examples

• Ich besuche meine Freundin am Samstag. — I’m visiting my friend on Saturday.
• Wir verstehen die Frage. — We understand the question.
• Er bezahlt die Rechnung. — He pays the bill.
• Sie entdeckt einen Fehler. — She discovers a mistake.

Common mistake

❌ Ich zahle die Rechnung be.

✅ Ich bezahle die Rechnung.

The prefix be- stays attached to the verb; it cannot be moved to the end of the sentence.

Remember

An inseparable prefix stays with the verb when you conjugate it.