Where the pieces go: one verb in four sentences
Choose a sentence type to see whether the verb splits or stays whole. The rule underneath is simple: if the verb is in slot 1 or 2, it splits. If the verb goes to the end, it stays in one piece.
Common prefixes and what they add
Most separable prefixes are ordinary prepositions or adverbs, so they often add a sense of direction. The meaning is not always predictable, but it is often a good first guess.
In the perfect tense: ge- goes in the middle
Build the past participle of the base verb as usual, then glue the prefix to the front. The result is one word with ge- in the middle. Whether you use haben or sein depends on the meaning of the whole verb: ankommen (to arrive) is movement, so ich bin angekommen.
Prefixes that never separate
Eight prefixes stay stuck to the verb: be-, emp-, ent-, er-, ge-, miss-, ver-, zer-. None of them is a word on its own, and none is stressed. You can hear the difference: separable prefixes take the stress (AN-rufen), inseparable ones never do (ver-STEH-en). In the perfect, these verbs take no ge- at all.
A day described with separable verbs
Daily routines are full of them. Prefixes are in red. Every word has its English meaning underneath.