Separable Verbs in Main Clauses: Prefix Placement and Word Order

What happens to the prefix in a main clause?

Separable verbs are verbs whose prefix can “detach” from the verb in certain sentence types. In German main clauses (Hauptsätze), the key idea is simple: the conjugated verb sits in the verb position of the clause, and the separable prefix moves to the end of that clause. This creates a “verb bracket” (Satzklammer): the conjugated verb opens the bracket, and the prefix closes it.

Example (main clause statement):

Ich stehe um 7 Uhr auf.  (aufstehen = to get up)

Here, stehe is the conjugated verb form in the clause, and auf is placed at the end of the clause.

This chapter focuses specifically on separable verbs in main clauses: where the prefix goes, how word order works when you add time/place/manner information, and what happens with negation, objects, adverbs, and multiple clause elements.

The “verb bracket” in practice

In a typical main clause, you will often see this structure:

Continue in our app.

You can listen to the audiobook with the screen off, receive a free certificate for this course, and also have access to 5,000 other free online courses.

Or continue reading below...

Download the app

[Topic] + [conjugated verb] + ... + [separable prefix]

The “...” can include many elements: subject (if it isn’t the topic), objects, adverbs, prepositional phrases, and more. The important rule is: the separable prefix is the last element of the clause (with a few predictable exceptions you’ll learn below).

Basic examples

Wir fangen heute an.          (anfangen = to start)  → fangen ... an

Er ruft mich später an.       (anrufen = to call)    → ruft ... an

Ich mache das Fenster zu.     (zumachen = to close)  → mache ... zu

Sie räumt die Küche auf.      (aufräumen = to tidy)  → räumt ... auf

Notice that the prefix is not “near” the verb anymore. German listeners still understand it because the prefix is expected at the end, completing the meaning.

Step-by-step: building a correct main clause with a separable verb

Use this procedure when you’re unsure about word order.

Step 1: Identify the separable verb and its prefix

Example: anrufen → prefix an- + base verb rufen.

Step 2: Conjugate the verb (without the prefix)

Conjugate the base verb as usual for the subject in the present tense, and keep the prefix aside.

ich rufe, du rufst, er/sie/es ruft, wir rufen, ihr ruft, sie/Sie rufen

Step 3: Put the conjugated verb into the main-clause verb position

In a statement, the conjugated verb appears early in the clause (the standard main-clause pattern). You do not place the prefix here.

Ich rufe ...

Step 4: Add the rest of the sentence content

Add objects, time expressions, place, and other details.

Ich rufe dich heute Abend ...

Step 5: Close the clause with the prefix

Put the separable prefix at the end of the clause.

Ich rufe dich heute Abend an.

This step-by-step method works for most everyday sentences and helps you avoid the common mistake of keeping the prefix attached (*Ich anrufe dich...* is incorrect in a main clause).

What counts as “the end of the clause”?

“End of the clause” means the end of that grammatical unit, not necessarily the end of the entire sentence on the page. In a single main clause, the prefix typically comes right before the period, question mark, or exclamation mark.

Mach bitte die Tür zu!        (imperative main clause)

Rufst du mich später an?      (yes/no question main clause)

If you add extra information, the prefix still closes the clause:

Ich stehe morgen wegen des Termins sehr früh auf.

Even with multiple adverbs and phrases, auf stays at the end.

Topic-first flexibility: what can appear before the verb?

Main clauses allow different elements in the first position (often called the “topic” position). This is useful for emphasis: time, place, or an object can come first. The separable-verb rule does not change: the conjugated verb appears early in the clause, and the prefix goes to the end.

Time first

Heute fange ich mit dem Kurs an.

Here, Heute is first for emphasis. The verb fange comes next, and an closes the clause.

Place first

In der Küche räumt sie gerade auf.

Object first

Den Chef rufe ich später an.

Even if an object is first, the prefix still goes to the end: an.

Where do objects go inside the verb bracket?

Objects (direct/accusative, indirect/dative, pronouns, noun phrases) typically appear between the conjugated verb and the separable prefix. The prefix is not placed after the object “immediately”; it waits until the clause ends.

With a noun object

Ich mache das Licht aus.      (ausmachen = to switch off)

Wir stellen das Auto ab.      (abstellen = to park / put down)

With a pronoun object

Ich mache es aus.

Er zieht sie an.             (anziehen = to put on [clothes])

Pronouns often come earlier than longer noun phrases, but regardless of object type, the prefix remains at the end.

With two objects

Some separable verbs commonly take two objects (for example, giving someone something back). Both objects appear inside the bracket, and the prefix still closes the clause.

Ich gebe dir das Buch zurück. (zurückgeben = to give back)

Sie bringt ihm den Schlüssel mit. (mitbringen = to bring along)

In these examples, zurück and mit are placed at the end of the clause.

Negation with separable verbs: where does “nicht” go?

Negation is a frequent source of word-order mistakes. In main clauses with separable verbs, nicht typically appears before the separable prefix, because the prefix is the clause-final element.

Negating the action in general

Ich stehe heute nicht auf.

Wir fangen noch nicht an.

Er ruft mich nicht an.

Here, nicht sits inside the verb bracket, and the prefix remains last.

Negating a specific element (contrast focus)

If you negate a specific part (for example, not today, not in the kitchen), nicht may appear directly before that element. The prefix still closes the clause.

Ich rufe dich nicht heute an, sondern morgen.

Sie räumt nicht im Wohnzimmer auf, sondern in der Küche.

Even when nicht moves for focus, the prefix stays at the end of the clause.

Adverbs and time expressions: keeping the prefix at the end

German sentences often include several adverbial elements (time, manner, place, reason). With separable verbs, all of these elements typically appear between the conjugated verb and the prefix, because the prefix closes the clause.

Examples with multiple elements

Ich räume heute nach der Arbeit schnell auf.

Wir stehen am Wochenende sehr spät auf.

Er ruft wegen der Frage gleich zurück an.  (less common style)

Note: With some verbs, German speakers prefer certain combinations or different verbs (for example, zurückrufen is often used instead of “zurück anrufen”). The word-order principle remains the same: conjugated verb early, prefix at the end.

Questions in main clauses: yes/no and W-questions

Main-clause questions also follow the separable-prefix rule: the conjugated verb appears in the question structure, and the prefix goes to the end.

Yes/no questions

Stehst du morgen früh auf?

Rufst du mich später an?

Fängt der Film um acht an?

W-questions

Wann stehst du auf?

Wen rufst du an?

Wo räumt ihr auf?

The question word comes first, the conjugated verb follows the question structure, and the prefix still closes the clause.

Imperatives (commands): prefix still goes to the end

Imperatives are very common with separable verbs in daily life. In a command, the verb form comes first, and the prefix goes to the end.

Steh auf!                     (Get up!)

Ruf mich an!                  (Call me!)

Mach das Fenster zu!          (Close the window!)

Räum bitte dein Zimmer auf!   (Please tidy your room!)

If you add polite words like bitte or extra details, they go inside the bracket, and the prefix stays last.

Mach bitte das Licht aus.

Hör jetzt sofort auf!         (aufhören = to stop)

Separable verbs with “zu” as a prefix vs. “zu” as an infinitive marker

In main clauses, a separable prefix like zu- behaves like any other separable prefix: it moves to the end of the clause.

Ich mache die Tür zu.         (zumachen = to close)

Sie hört die Musik zu laut zu. (zuhören = to listen)  → hört ... zu

Be careful not to confuse this with zu used as an infinitive marker (which belongs to other sentence patterns). In this chapter’s focus—main clauses with separable verbs—the key point is: if zu is the separable prefix, it goes to the end.

Common pitfalls and how to fix them

Pitfall 1: Keeping the prefix attached in a main clause

Incorrect:

*Ich anrufe dich später.

Correct:

Ich rufe dich später an.

Fix: Conjugate the base verb and move the prefix to the end.

Pitfall 2: Putting extra information after the prefix

Incorrect:

*Ich rufe dich an morgen.

Correct:

Ich rufe dich morgen an.

Fix: The prefix closes the clause, so time/place/manner information must come before it.

Pitfall 3: Misplacing “nicht” after the prefix

Incorrect:

*Ich rufe dich an nicht.

Correct:

Ich rufe dich nicht an.

Fix: Put nicht inside the bracket, before the prefix.

Pitfall 4: Forgetting that the prefix belongs to the clause, not the line

If you speak quickly or add a lot of details, it’s easy to “lose” the prefix. A good habit is to plan the prefix early in your mind and “save it” for the end.

Ich ... (anrufen) ... rufe dich nach dem Meeting sofort an.

Training patterns: plug-and-play sentence frames

Use these frames to practice. Replace the bracketed parts with your own words, but keep the prefix at the end.

Frame 1: Simple statement

Ich [VERB] [OBJECT] [TIME] [PREFIX].

Examples:

Ich rufe meine Mutter heute an.

Ich mache das Fenster jetzt zu.

Frame 2: Time first (topic shift)

[TIME] [VERB] ich [OBJECT] [PREFIX].

Examples:

Morgen stehe ich um sechs auf.

Heute fange ich mit der Aufgabe an.

Frame 3: With negation

Ich [VERB] [OBJECT] nicht [PREFIX].

Examples:

Ich räume das Zimmer nicht auf.

Wir geben das Geld nicht zurück.

Frame 4: Yes/no question

[VERB] du [OBJECT] [TIME] [PREFIX]?

Examples:

Rufst du mich später an?

Stehst du morgen früh auf?

Frame 5: Imperative

[VERB] (bitte) [OBJECT] [PREFIX]!

Examples:

Mach bitte die Tür zu!

Räum dein Zimmer auf!

Mini-drills: build the verb bracket automatically

Try converting each infinitive into a main-clause sentence by applying the bracket rule. First choose a subject, then conjugate the base verb, then place the prefix at the end.

• aufstehen → (ich) + stehe ... auf

  Ich stehe um sieben auf.

• anrufen → (wir) + rufen ... an

  Wir rufen dich nach der Arbeit an.

• ausmachen → (ihr) + macht ... aus

  Ihr macht bitte das Licht aus.

• zurückgeben → (sie) + gibt ... zurück

  Sie gibt mir das Buch morgen zurück.

• mitbringen → (du) + bringst ... mit

  Du bringst den Laptop ins Büro mit.

Notice how each sentence keeps the prefix as the final element of the clause, even when you add time or place phrases.

Checklist for correct prefix placement in main clauses

• Conjugate the base verb (without the prefix) for the subject.

• Place that conjugated verb in the main clause verb position.

• Put objects, adverbs, and other details between verb and prefix.

• Place the separable prefix at the end of the clause.

• If you use nicht, it usually goes before the prefix (unless you negate a specific element for contrast).