German has many separable verbs. They are verbs with a prefix and a root. In the infinitive the prefix is attached to the verb, but in the simple present they are separate. Let us illustrate with examples:
abfahren (leave)
Mein Zug fährt um 9 Uhr ab. (My train leaves at nine o'clock)
ankommen (arrive)
Die Fähre kommt jetzt an. (The ferry is arriving now)
aufmachen (open)
Das Geschäft macht jeden Tag auf. (The store opens every day )
aufstehen (get up)
Ich stehe früh auf. (I get up early)
zurückkommen (come back)
Wir kommen am Samstag zurück. (We're coming back on Saturday)
Separable verbs in German are similar to phrasal verbs in English. However, German separable verbs follow very clear rules. From the examples, it is clear that the prefix is attached to the verb in the infinitive, but it is separated in present tense.
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