Separable verbs
A separable verb looks like one word in the dictionary and like two words in a main clause. aufstehen, einkaufen, anrufen and mitbringen work this way.
Ich stehe um sieben Uhr auf.
Kaufst du heute ein?
The conjugated part takes position 2, or position 1 in a yes/no question. The prefix is the last piece of that clause. A past participle or an infinitive with a modal keeps the prefix attached: Ich möchte um sieben aufstehen.
In a weil clause the verb is already at the end, so the prefix does not travel a second time. It stays stuck to the verb.
Ich rufe an, weil ich später komme.
Say the sentence and do not drop the prefix. Without auf, stehen is a different verb. The A1 lesson and the sentence builder both keep the prefix visible.
Open the separable-verb lesson · Build the sentence · Verb position
Verb position · Cases · Two-way prepositions · Plurals
Author: Fahrplan Deutsch. Last reviewed 2026-10-27. reviewed: false. A native-speaker review is still open.
Questions
Where does the prefix go?
In a statement, the conjugated verb stays in position 2 and the prefix closes the clause: Ich stehe um sieben Uhr auf.
Does the prefix stay attached in a weil clause?
Yes. After weil the whole verb goes to the end and the prefix stays on it: weil ich um sieben Uhr aufstehe.