Andrew Zhao
A Question about "ge-" in German. I've met several German words with "ge-", such as "brauchen" and "gebrauchen', I wander is "ge-" the prefix, if it is, what's the meaning of it? Vielen danke!
Aug 12, 2014 1:32 AM
Answers · 4
The 'ge-' prefix in German marks a past participle. For example: sagen = to say (ich sage - I say/am saying) gesagt = said (ich hage gesagt - I have said) Some verbs with particular prefixes (such as be-, er-) don't take this prefix when forming the past participle.
August 12, 2014
Hello, Adam is right that the prefix ge- forms the past tense in German, but "gebrauchen" is also a verb itself. gebrauchen = brauchen, verwenden, benutzen > to use: Peter gebraucht / benutzt den Hammer, um einen Nagel in die Wand zu schlagen. http://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/gebrauchen
August 12, 2014
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