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Questions & Answers about Siehst du oft fern?
Why is fern at the very end of the sentence?
The dictionary form of the verb is fernsehen (to watch TV). It is a separable prefix verb. In German, when you use a separable verb in a present-tense sentence or question, the prefix (in this case, fern) breaks off from the main verb and moves to the very end of the clause.
Why is the verb spelled siehst with an "i" instead of "sehst"?
The base verb here is sehen (to see), which is an irregular verb. When conjugated for du (you) and er/sie/es (he/she/it), the "e" in the verb stem changes to "ie". That is why it becomes du siehst rather than following the regular pattern.
How does the word order work in this specific question?
Because this is a yes/no question, the conjugated main verb (siehst) must take the first position. The subject (du) comes immediately after it in position two. Then comes the adverb oft (often), and finally, the separated prefix fern sits at the very end.
What does the word fern actually mean on its own?
On its own, fern means "far" or "distant". So the verb fernsehen literally translates to "far-seeing". This is exactly how the English word "television" was formed, combining Greek and Latin roots that also mean "far sight"!