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Inseparable verbs in the perfect tense

A2

Ich habe verstanden. Ich habe bekommen. Verbs with prefixes like ver-, be-, er- form the perfect tense without ge-. Here you see which prefixes this applies to and why.

  • Inseparable verb prefixes
  • Present perfect with 'haben'

Grammar → Inseparable verbs in the perfect tense

Explanation

Many verbs have a fixed prefix like be-, ver-, er-, or ent-. These prefixes are inseparable — they always stay attached to the verb.

In the perfect tense, these verbs get no ge-: besuchen → besucht, verkaufen → verkauft, erklären → erklärt.

Regular verbs, by contrast, have ge- in the past participle: machen → gemacht, spielen → gespielt.

The perfect tense forms a verb bracket as always: the auxiliary haben (or sein) is in position 2, the past participle at the end of the sentence: Ich habe meine Oma besucht.

The past participle often ends in -t (besucht, erklärt) or, for irregular verbs, in -en (bekommen, verstanden, vergessen).

VerbPast participleVerb-bracket example
besuchenbesuchtIch habe meine Oma besucht.
verkaufenverkauftWir haben das Auto verkauft.
bekommenbekommenDu hast ein Geschenk bekommen.
vergessenvergessenSie hat den Schlüssel vergessen.

Find words

Which past participle fits?

With or without ge-?

Put sentences in order

Fill in the blanks

Grammar in context

Read these texts to consolidate what you learned. They fit this grammar lesson especially well.

StoryDas Paket

The Package

Das Paket

Lena orders online for the first time. Will the package arrive?

StoryDer Geldautomat

The ATM

Der Geldautomat

Julia needs cash but can't find an ATM.

StoryAnnas Hund

Anna's Dog

Annas Hund

Faust, the dog, is missing!

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