German A2.5 Listening Practice: Keep The Separable Infinitive Intact
German A2 listening practice with audio, transcript, key phrases, and a speaking challenge for keep the separable infinitive intact.
Podcast listening is in beta while creation and discussion tools are refined. This published chapter includes its complete segmented audio and transcript.
Level
A2.5
Audio
Segmented audio
Transcript
21 segments
What to notice while you listen
What you'll understand
Use a selected separable verb after a modal without splitting its infinitive.
Keep anrufen or aufstehen whole at the end when a modal occupies the finite verb position.
New pattern
after a modal, a separable verb remains an intact infinitive at the end
Practice aloud after listening
Heute kann ich dich anrufen, aber morgen muss ich früh aufstehen.
Today I can call you, but tomorrow I have to get up early.
A short German listening chapter with transcript.
When a modal already carries the person and tense, send the complete separable infinitive to the end.
Read while you listen.
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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