Dutch separable verbs (scheidbare werkwoorden) made easy
How Dutch separable verbs like opbellen and opstaan work in every tense, in subordinate clauses, with modals and te, plus 20 common ones.
Ik bel je morgen op. Where's the verb? If you look it up, you'll find it under opbellen (to phone), but in this sentence it has been split in two, with op waiting patiently at the end. These are separable verbs, and Dutch has a lot of them. English has something similar in phrasal verbs like "call up" or "get up", and the Dutch system is actually more predictable.
Which verbs separate?
A separable verb is a normal verb with a prefix in front: op + staan = opstaan (to get up), aan + komen = aankomen (to arrive). The prefix is usually a word that also exists on its own, most often a preposition or adverb.
Common separable prefixes include:
aan, af, bij, in, mee, na, op, terug, toe, uit, weg, samen, thuis, tegen, langs
Some prefixes never separate: be-, ge-, her-, ver-, ont-, er-. Betalen, vertellen and herhalen always stay in one piece.
A few prefixes can go either way: door, over, om, onder, voor, achter. The stress tells you which it is. In separable verbs, the stress is on the prefix. In inseparable ones, it's on the verb.
| Verb | Stress | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| voorkomen | VOORkomen | to occur | Dat komt vaak voor. — That happens often. |
| voorkomen | voorKOmen | to prevent | Hij voorkomt een ongeluk. — He prevents an accident. |
| ondergaan | ONdergaan | to set (sun) | De zon gaat om negen uur onder. — The sun sets at nine. |
| ondergaan | onderGAAN | to undergo | Ze ondergaat een operatie. — She's having an operation. |
You don't need to worry about these pairs much at A2. Just remember: stressed prefix = separable.
The present tense: prefix to the end
In a main clause, the conjugated verb goes to second position as usual, and the prefix goes to the end of the clause.
- Ik sta elke dag om zeven uur op. — I get up at seven every day.
- De trein komt om tien over drie aan. — The train arrives at ten past three.
- Neem je een paraplu mee? — Are you taking an umbrella?
The same happens in the simple past and the imperative:
- Ik stond gisteren laat op. — I got up late yesterday.
- Doe de deur dicht! — Close the door!
Sometimes a phrase can follow the prefix, especially a prepositional phrase. Both of these are fine:
- Ik nodig je voor mijn verjaardag uit. — I'm inviting you to my birthday.
- Ik nodig je uit voor mijn verjaardag. — I'm inviting you to my birthday.
When the verb stays together
Whenever the verb goes to the end of the clause, the prefix joins it again and you write one word.
In subordinate clauses:
- Ik weet niet hoe laat de trein aankomt. — I don't know what time the train arrives.
- Ik ben moe, omdat ik om vijf uur ben opgestaan. — I'm tired because I got up at five.
With modal verbs (and other verbs that send an infinitive to the end):
- Ik moet morgen vroeg opstaan. — I have to get up early tomorrow.
- Kun je me vanavond opbellen? — Can you phone me tonight?
- Wil je meegaan? — Do you want to come along?
The perfect tense and te-infinitives
Perfect tense: ge- in the middle
In the past participle, ge- goes between the prefix and the verb. The result is written as one word.
- opbellen → opgebeld — Ik heb haar opgebeld. — I phoned her.
- opstaan → opgestaan — Ik ben om zeven uur opgestaan. — I got up at seven.
- meenemen → meegenomen — Heb je je paspoort meegenomen? — Did you bring your passport?
- uitnodigen → uitgenodigd — We hebben twintig mensen uitgenodigd. — We invited twenty people.
If the verb part has its own unstressed prefix, there's no ge- at all: voorbereiden → voorbereid. Ik heb me goed voorbereid. — I prepared well.
The auxiliary follows the normal rules: opstaan and aankomen take zijn, most others take hebben. See our post on the perfect tense.
With te: te in the middle
When a separable verb needs te (after verbs like proberen, vergeten or in om … te constructions), te goes between the prefix and the verb, written as three separate words:
- Ik probeer elke dag vroeg op te staan. — I try to get up early every day.
- Vergeet niet je moeder terug te bellen. — Don't forget to call your mother back.
- Het is lastig om alles uit te leggen. — It's hard to explain everything.
| Form | Example with opstaan |
|---|---|
| present, main clause | Ik sta op. |
| subordinate clause | …omdat ik opsta. |
| with modal | Ik moet opstaan. |
| perfect | Ik ben opgestaan. |
| te-infinitive | Ik probeer op te staan. |
20 common separable verbs
| Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| opstaan | to get up | Hoe laat sta je op? — What time do you get up? |
| opbellen | to phone | Ik bel je vanavond op. — I'll phone you tonight. |
| terugbellen | to call back | Ik bel je straks terug. — I'll call you back later. |
| aankomen | to arrive | Wanneer kom je aan? — When do you arrive? |
| afspreken | to arrange (to meet) | Zullen we morgen afspreken? — Shall we meet up tomorrow? |
| meenemen | to take along | Ik neem een fles wijn mee. — I'll bring a bottle of wine. |
| meegaan | to come along | Ga je mee? — Are you coming along? |
| meedoen | to join in | Doe je mee? — Are you joining in? |
| uitgaan | to go out | We gaan zaterdag uit. — We're going out on Saturday. |
| uitnodigen | to invite | Ik nodig mijn buren uit. — I'm inviting my neighbours. |
| uitleggen | to explain | De docent legt de regel uit. — The teacher explains the rule. |
| instappen | to get on/in | Stap maar in! — Go ahead, get in! |
| uitstappen | to get off/out | Ik stap bij het station uit. — I get off at the station. |
| overstappen | to change (trains) | Je stapt in Utrecht over. — You change in Utrecht. |
| terugkomen | to come back | Wanneer kom je terug? — When are you coming back? |
| thuiskomen | to come home | Ik kom om zes uur thuis. — I get home at six. |
| opruimen | to tidy up | Ruim je kamer op! — Tidy your room! |
| schoonmaken | to clean | We maken het huis schoon. — We're cleaning the house. |
| aanzetten | to switch on | Zet de tv maar aan. — Go ahead, switch the TV on. |
| nadenken | to think (about) | Ik denk erover na. — I'll think about it. |
Quick summary
- Separable verbs have a stressed prefix: OPstaan, UITgaan.
- Be-, ge-, her-, ver-, ont-, er- never separate.
- Main clause: verb in second place, prefix at the end: Ik sta op.
- Verb at the end (subordinate clause, modal, infinitive): one word again: …dat ik opsta, Ik moet opstaan.
- Perfect: ge- in the middle: opgestaan, opgebeld.
- With te: three words: op te staan.
Practise it
Describe your morning in Daily routine, where opstaan and aankleden appear all the time, use the participles in Perfect tense, and practise op te staan and friends in Te + infinitive.