Inseparable Verb Prefixes

Untrennbare Verben

Lesson 15 taught separable verbs (einkaufen → kaufe ... ein). There's a second group of prefixed verbs that look similar but never split - and you've actually been using several of them already (verstehen, bekommen, empfehlen) without the rule being named.

The fixed inseparable prefixes

These prefixes are never stressed and never split off, no matter the tense: be-, ge-, er-, ver-, zer-, ent-, emp-, miss-.

How to tell separable and inseparable apart

There's no single rule based on spelling alone, but two reliable checks help:

• The fixed prefix list above is always inseparable. If a verb starts with be-, ver-, ent-, er-, etc., it never splits - full stop.
• Separable prefixes are usually stressed in speech ("EINkaufen"), while inseparable ones are not ("verSTEHEN"). If you're listening rather than reading, stress is often the giveaway.

No ge- in the Perfekt participle

One more consequence worth flagging: inseparable verbs skip the ge- prefix entirely in the Perfekt (Lesson 16), unlike regular verbs:

verstehen → verstanden (not "geverstanden")
bekommen → bekommen (identical to the infinitive)

Quick recall check

Primary source

Cross-checked against the Goethe-Institut A1 practice materials.

Unsure whether a specific prefixed verb splits or not? Ask your teaching agent.