Questions & Answers about Ich mache das Radio an.
Why are mache and an separated in this sentence?
The verb here isn't just machen (to do/make), but the separable verb anmachen (to turn on). In a standard German main clause, the main part of the verb (mache) takes the second position, and the prefix (an) gets kicked to the very end of the sentence.
Doesn't machen usually mean "to do" or "to make"?
Yes, it does! But separable prefixes change the meaning of the core verb. Adding an to machen creates a new verb, anmachen, which specifically means "to turn on" (used for electronics, lights, etc.).
Is das Radio in the nominative or accusative case here?
It is in the accusative case because it's the direct object receiving the action. For neuter nouns like Radio, the word for "the" is das in both the nominative and accusative cases, so it looks exactly the same as the dictionary form.
What would happen if I added more words, like saying "I am turning on the radio today"?
The separable prefix an must wait until the very end of the thought. If you add the word for today (heute), it gets tucked inside the sentence: Ich mache heute das Radio an.
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