German A2.5 Listening Practice: Keep The Separable Infinitive Intact
Listen to a A2 German dialogue about keep the separable infinitive intact, with audio, transcript, and grammar notes for language learning.
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Level
A2.5
Audio
Segmented audio
Transcript
21 segments
A short German listening chapter with transcript.
When a modal already carries the person and tense, send the complete separable infinitive to the end.
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1. Hanna · Teacher
Welcome to ChickyTutor! Today we are learning how modal verbs affect separable verbs in German. Normally, separable verbs split, like 'Ich rufe dich an'. But when a modal verb like 'können' or 'müssen' is used, the separable verb stays intact at the end of the clause. Let's listen to Felix and Clara.
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2. Felix · Native Speaker 1
Hallo Clara, heute kann ich dich anrufen.
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3. Clara · Native Speaker 2
Das ist super, aber morgen muss ich wirklich früh aufstehen.
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4. Felix · Native Speaker 1
Darf ich dich trotzdem kurz anrufen?
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5. Clara · Native Speaker 2
Ja gerne, denn wir möchten morgen auch früh aufstehen.
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6. Felix · Native Speaker 1
Verstanden! Heute kann ich dich anrufen, aber morgen muss ich früh aufstehen.
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7. Hanna · Teacher
Let's break down these sentences. First, Felix said: 'Heute kann ich dich anrufen.' This means 'Today I can call you.'
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8. Lukas · Student
Why doesn't 'anrufen' split into 'rufe an' here?
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9. Hanna · Teacher
Because the modal verb 'kann' occupies the conjugated position, which forces 'anrufen' to stay in its full infinitive form at the end.
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10. Hanna · Teacher
Next, Clara said: 'morgen muss ich wirklich früh aufstehen', meaning 'tomorrow I really have to get up early.'
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11. Lukas · Student
So 'muss' sends the complete verb 'aufstehen' all the way to the end?
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12. Hanna · Teacher
Exactly. The modal verb 'müssen' creates a bracket that closes with the intact infinitive 'aufstehen'.
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13. Hanna · Teacher
Then Felix asked: 'Darf ich dich trotzdem kurz anrufen?', which translates to 'May I call you briefly anyway?'
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14. Lukas · Student
Does this bracket rule apply to questions as well?
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15. Hanna · Teacher
Yes! 'Darf' moves to the front, but 'anrufen' still remains intact at the very end.
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16. Hanna · Teacher
Next, Clara mentioned: 'wir möchten morgen auch früh aufstehen', meaning 'we would like to get up early tomorrow too.'
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17. Lukas · Student
Does 'möchten' follow the exact same modal structure?
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18. Hanna · Teacher
Precisely. 'Möchten' takes second position and leaves 'aufstehen' whole at the end.
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19. Hanna · Teacher
Finally, Felix put both parts together: 'Heute kann ich dich anrufen, aber morgen muss ich früh aufstehen.'
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20. Lukas · Student
So in both clauses, 'kann' and 'muss' keep 'anrufen' and 'aufstehen' unsplit?
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21. Hanna · Teacher
That's it! Whenever a modal takes the finite verb position, keep the separable infinitive whole at the end.
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