11.5 Inseparable verb prefixes
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11.5 Inseparable verb prefixes Verbs can be formed from nouns or adjectives or other verbs by the INSEPARABLE PREFIXES be-, ent-/emp-, er-, ge-, miss-, ver- and zer-.
These prefixes are unstressed and always remain attached to the ROOT. The PAST PARTICIPLES of these verbs do not add ge-. In INFINITIVE CLAUSES (see 10.6), zu comes before the verb: Sie hat versprochen ihn zu besuchen.
She promised to visit him.
Most of these prefixes have a number of possible meanings. The verbs formed in this way can in turn form nouns, adjectives, adverbs and other verbs, e.g. verstehen – Verstand – Verständnis – verständig – verständigen – verständnisvoll.
Be Makes intransitive verbs TRANSITIVE. The dative object or prepositional object of the root verb becomes the accusative object of the verb with be-: jdn. bedienen eine Frage beantworten etw. bekämpfen
serve sb. answer a question combat sth.
← jemandem dienen ← auf eine Frage antworten ← gegen etwas kämpfen
Makes verbs from nouns with the idea of providing with something. The vowel may have Umlaut, and the suffix -ig- is sometimes added: bewässern benachrichtigen
irrigate notify
← das Wasser ← die Nachricht
Makes verbs from adjectives with the idea of endowing something with that quality. The suffix -ig- is sometimes added: befeuchten begradigen
moisten straighten
← feucht ← gerade
Ent-, empThe prefix emp- is a variety of ent-, but is only used with a few verbs: empfangen, empfehlen, empfinden.
Ent- makes verbs from verbs of motion with the idea of escaping or taking something away with that motion (usually with a dative object): jdm./etw. entlaufen jdm. etw. entreißen
run away from sb./sth. snatch sth. from sb.
← laufen ← reißen
