36.2 Verbs with an inseparable prefix
Some verbal prefixes are always inseparable, i.e. they always form a single word with the
verb to which they are attached.(a) It is possible to hear when a verb is inseparable because the stress is typically on the
main verb (not on the prefix), i.e. bestehen, genießen.(b) The past participle is without ge-, and in infinitive constructions with zu, the zu
comes before the verb:Er bestand das Examen.
He passed the exam.Er hat das Examen bestanden.
He passed/has passed the exam.Man kommt nicht weiter, ohne das Examen zu bestehen.
One doesn’t progress any further without passing the exam. See 42.3f (p. 115) for verb completion by an infinitive clause with zu; see also 8.7 (p. 13) for
word order.(c) The inseparable prefixes are be-, emp-, ent-, er-, ge-, miss-, ver-, zer-:See also 57.2 (p. 143).
beschreiben ‘to describe’Er hat dich sehr genau beschrieben.
He described you exactly.empfinden ‘to feel/sense’Ich habe das als unfair empfunden.
I felt that was unfair.entlasten ‘to relieve/lighten the burden’Ist es möglich, mich ein bisschen zu entlasten?
Is it possible to lighten my load a little?erfüllen ‘to fulfil’Sie haben den Vertrag nicht erfüllt.
You have not fulfilled the contract.genießen ‘to enjoy/have the benefit of ’Sie hat die Ferien in Irland genossen.
She enjoyed the holidays in Ireland.misslingen ‘to go wrong’Es misslingt mir. (Es ist mir misslungen.)
It’s going wrong (it went wrong) for me.36
VERBS