Prefixes & Suffixes

Question 1

What is a prefix?

Answer 1

Prefixes are one or more syllables added to the beginning of a word to change that word’s meaning. Also, a verb can be formed by adding a prefix to another part of speech.

Question 2

What is a suffix?

Answer 2

Suffixes are one or more syllables added to the end of a word to change that word into a different part of speech. In German, certain suffixes not only affect the meaning of a noun, but also determine the gender of the noun being formed.

Question 3

Name 4 important German suffixes that form new nouns.

Answer 3

NOUN plus -chen or -lein results in a noun that is neuter. These suffixes show that the new noun is a diminutive, i,e, something reduced in size.

ADJECTIVE plus -heit or -keit results in a noun that is feminine. These suffixes turn an adjective into a noun that expresses an abstract quality.

Question 4

Name 2 major groups of German verb prefixes.

Answer 4

1. Separable – similar to English verbs regularly used with a preposition, and function as a unit even though separated.
2. Inseparable – function as one word.

Question 5

Name 2 defining aspects of the infinitive form a verb.

Answer 5

1. Always one word.

2. Preceded by “to” or “zu” in the dictionary.

Question 6

Name 17 separable verb prefixes.

Answer 6

1. ab-
2. an-
3. auf-
4. aus-
5. bei-
6. ein-
7. fort-
8. her-
9. hin-
10. mit-
11. nach-
12. um-
13. vor-
14. weg-
15. weiter-
16. zurück-
17. zusammen-

Question 7

Name 8 inseparable verb prefixes.

Answer 7

1. be-
2. emp-
3. ent-
4. er-
5. ge-
6. miss-
7. ver-
8. zer-

Question 8

What are 4 key things to memorize when learning German verbs?

Answer 8

1. Infinitive form of the verb.
2. Is verb prefix separable or inseparable?
3. Meaning of the verb.
4. The infinitive form of the verb is listed in the dictionary. However, remember that the infinitive form of a verb can utilize different prefixes, and those prefixes can be both separable and inseparable.