Inseparable Prefixes

be- verb has an accusative antworten (auf) – to answer to kämpfen (gegen) – to fight against sprechen (über) – to talk about beantworten – to answer bekämpfen – to fight against besprechen – to discuss

(weiter) **may change the meaning of the verb** kommen sitzen suchen bekommen besitzen (to own) besuchen

(mehr) **creates verbs from nouns and adjectives** der Freund richtig ruhig befreunden berichtigen (to correct) beruhigen (to calm)

ent- expresses separation/ removal equivalent to de- (detach), dis- (disconnect), un- (undo) das Fett (fat, grease) die Kraft (strength) fern (far) heilig (holy, sacred) decken (to cover) falten (to fold) kommen (to come) entfetten – remove the fat entkräften – to weaken entfernen – to remove entheiligen – to desecrate entdecken – to discover entfalten – to unfold entkommen – to escape

er- converts adjectives to verbs hell (bright) hoch (high) möglich (possible) erhellen (to lighten) erhöhen (to heighten) ermöglichen (to make possible)

er- changes the meaning of root verbs to imply successful completion arbeiten finden raten (to guess) erarbeiten – to obtain through work erfinden – to invent erraten – to guess correctly

er- certain verbs = fatal schießen schlagen stechen (to stab/pierce) trinken erschießen – to shoot fatally erschlagen – to slay erstechen – to stab to death ertrinken – to drown

hinter- emphasize behind, like “leave behind” hinterlassen hinterlegen leave behind put down (like rent)

hinter- behind as in a façade or someone’s back hinterfragen hintergehen investigated/called into question deceived

miss- done falsely or wrong (mis/dis) deuten – to interpret gefallen – to be pleasing handeln – to act (upon) trauen – to trust verstehen – to understand missdeuten – misinterpret misgefallen – to displease misshandeln – to mistreat misstrauen – to distrust missverstehen – to misunderstand

ver- the verb is being done incorrectly fahren führen laufen legen rechnen sprechen sich verfahren – to drive in the wrong direction verführen – to lead astray sich verlaufen – to get lost (by foot) verlegen – to misplace sich verrechnen – miscalculate sich versprechen – to misspeak

ver- continues until something is used up or destroyed brauchen brennen fallen gehen schwinden – to dwindle spielen verbrauchen – to use up verbrennen – to burn up verfallen – to fall into ruin vergehen – to pass/fade away (time) verschwinden – to disappear verspielen – to gamble away

ver- conveys the sense of “away” jagen – to chase reisen – to travel schenken – to give as a gift treiben – to drive verjagen – to chase away verreisen – to go away on a trip verschenken – to give away vertreiben – to drive (someone) away

ver- intensifies, refines, alters the action of the root verb bergen – to hide/cover gleichen – to resemble urteilen – to judge zweifeln – to doubt verbergen – to hide vergleichen – to compare verurteilen – to condemn verzweifeln – to despair

ver- converts adjectives/adverbs/nouns to verbs anders besser größer länger mehr nicht die Ursache (cause) verändern – to change verbessern – to improve vergrößer – to make bigger, enlarge verlänger – to make longer, lengthen vermehren – to increase vernichten – to annihilate verursachen – to cause

zer- indicates destruction/dissolution through the action of the verb brechen fallen gehen legen reißen stören – disturb zerbrechen – shatter into pieces zerfallen – fall to pieces zergehen – dissolve (in a liquid) zerlegen - disassemble zerreißen – tear to pieces zerstören - to destroy