Key learning points

1. Preparing to listen by predicting what you will hear improves your understanding when you listen.
2. Separable verbs are made up of a prefix and a main verb, e.g., 'vorbereiten' - 'to prepare, preparing'.
3. In the present tense, the prefix moves to the end of the clause, e.g., 'ich bereite eine Party vor'.
4. Many two-part separable verbs in German have single word English translations, e.g., 'einkaufen' - 'to shop'.
5. In present tense negative sentences with separable verbs, 'nicht' generally goes just before the separable prefix.

Keywords

• Separable verb - two-part verb with a prefix and a main verb, e.g., ‘vorbereiten'

• Nicht - adverb meaning 'not'

Common misconception