Separable and inseparable verbs in German

Lesson 11: Mail – phone – bank. Activity 1

From this activity you will know how to:

• find out the cost of a letter to a certain city
• fill in a telegram form
• find out when the telegram will arrive
• send a parcel abroad

Learn the words and expressions for the dialogue

Pay attention to the form and the usage of the words

1. The noun die Karte may have different meanings depending on the context. It can be used either as a part of a compound noun or on its own:

    

   die Kinokarte
   die Theaterkarte
   die Fahrkarte
   die Flugkarte
   die Postkarte
   die Paketkarte

   cinema ticket
   theatre ticket
   season ticket
   plane ticket
   postcard
   dispatch form

2. By adding the suffixes -chen and -lein derivatives can be formed (often with umlaut) having a diminutive meaning:

    

   das Städtchen

   small town

    

   das Häuschen

   little house

    

   das Päckchen

   small parcel (less than 2 kg)

    

   das Büchlein

   little book

   Nouns with suffixes -chen and -lein are always of neuter gender.

3. Do not confuse the nouns die Mark «Mark» (old currency unit) и die Marke «stamp» (postage stamp, also: car make etc.).

Remember the following way of word-formation (1)

die Brief + die Marke = die Briefmarke postage stamp
druck(en) + die Schrift = die Druckschrift block letters

Practise in reading the words

Auf der Post

Grammar points

1. You already know that, unlike English, German has separable and inseparable verbs. The inseparable prefixes are: be-, ge-, er-, ver-, ent-, emp-, zer-.

    

   be- bestellen
   ge- gefallen
   er- erklären
   ver- verstehen
   ent- entschuldigen
   emp- empfehlen
   zer- zerstören

   «to order»
   «to please»
   «to explain»
   «to understand»
   «to excuse»
   «to recommend»
   «to destroy»

   Inseparable prefixes are not stressed and written as one word with the verb; there is no ge- prefix when participle II is formed:

    

   Ich habe Sie nicht verstanden.

   I didn’t understand you.

   Inseparable prefixes usually significantly change the meaning of the main verb: kommen «to come» — bekommen «to get» etc.

2. Separable prefixes are: ab-, an-, auf-, aus-, ein-, mit-, vor-, nach-, zu-, zurück-, fort-, zusammen- and others. Separable prefixes are stressed and are separated in the present tense, the past narrative tense and in the imperative mood. When participle II is formed, the prefix ge- goes between the prefix and the root of a verb:

   Ich stehe um halb sieben auf.

   I get up at half past six.

   Rufen Sie mich heute abend an!

   Call me tonight!

   Er hat mich um 9 Uhr abgeholt.

   He picked me up at 9 o’clock.

   Gestern rief ich Dieter an.

   I called Dieter yesterday.

   In subordinate clauses the prefix is written as one word with a verb: Ich weiß nicht, wann er mich anruft.

Separable and inseparable verbs

1. You want to send a telegram somewhere. Ask what you need to do. How would you answer if you were the postal employee?

2. You want to send a parcel abroad. Ask what you need to do. How would you answer if you were the postal employee?

3. You need some forms and stamps. Ask where you can get them. What question would you ask if you were the interlocutor?

4. You are asked someone’s address. Answer by following the correct order of the address on the envelope.

5. Fill in the gaps with the appropriate words from the dialogue.

1. Was kostet nach Wolgograd? 2. Ich möchte dieses nach Moskau schicken. 3. Ich möchte ein Telegramm nach Minsk . 4. Wann ist da? 5. Füllen Sie das Formular in aus!

6. Reconstruct the dialogue by filling in the gaps with the appropriate words.

7. Try to reproduce the dialogue “Auf der Post” by memory.

Check yourself!

What expressions will you use if you want to:

find out the cost of a letter to a certain city
fill in a telegram form
find out when the telegram will arrive
send a parcel abroad