Verbs

Verbs are the action words of a sentence.

Click on each link to go to a full page of explanation, examples, and exercises. The short rules on this page do not cover all aspects of every prefix, etc.

Weak Verbs are derived from simple words like hart, klar, stark usw by adding -en

Weak verbs may be formed by adding -en to many nouns: Reise, Ruf, Stelle usw

-ieren - (from old French -ier) Marsch = the march ==> marschieren = to march

isieren - like English -ize; modern = modern => modernisieren = modernize

be-, ent-, er-, ver-, und zer- are inseparable prefixes which were once independent words. They are treated below and each will have its own page.

be- (related to the preposition bei) means around, on all sides, changes intransitive verbs to transitive verbs: denken = to think => bedenken = to consider something from every angle.

ent- (often use emp- before verbs with initial f) often denotes the beginning of an activity: brennen = to burn => entbrennen, to take fire, become inflamed. entreißen = to tear away

er- (original form was ur) now used to denote beginning or ending of the action given by the verb (or adjective) blühen = to bloom => erblühen = to come into blossom.

ge- denotes collection or union: rinnen = to run or flow => gerinnen = coagulate.

ver- often to be continued

Written by Harold Eddleman, Ph. D., President, Indiana Biolab, 14045 Huff St., Palmyra IN 47164

Suggestions, corrections, and comments are appreciated: Contact Harold Eddleman indbio@disknet.com