Separate and combined spelling – basic principles
How it works
When deciding between separate and combined spelling, you must pay attention to the combination of parts of speech and to the meaning. Many verb-verb combinations are written separately, for example ‹spazieren gehen›. Combinations with verb prefixes are usually written together in the infinitive and in the participle, for example ‹aufstehen› or ‹ankommen›; in finite forms, separable prefixes are often written separately, as in ‹ich stehe auf›. Some combinations have a fixed overall meaning and are written together, for example ‹stattfinden›. However, there are also cases with differences in meaning or with two permissible spellings, for example ‹freisprechen› versus ‹frei sprechen› as well as ‹kennenlernen› and ‹kennen lernen›.
First check the type of combination and then the context: verb prefix + verb is usually written together in the infinitive, many verb-verb combinations are usually written separately, and fixed overall meanings are often written together. Remember that meaning can change the spelling.
An example
Which spelling fits in the sentence ‹Das Schulfest soll morgen ...›?
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50 Exercises
To the learning unit →Own explanation and own practice exercises by AmyMath. Subject reference framework: German. The topic assignment may vary by federal state.