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Questions & Answers about Peter ruft mich später an.
Why is an at the end?
Because anrufen is a separable-prefix verb. In a main clause, the conjugated part (ruft) goes in second position and the prefix (an) moves to the end.
What does an mean here?
As part of anrufen, an- doesn’t carry its own literal meaning; together with rufen it forms the verb meaning to phone/call someone.
Can I drop an and say Peter ruft mich später?
No. Without an, rufen means to call out/shout to someone. To mean phone, you need the prefix: anrufen.
Why mich and not mir?
Anrufen takes a direct object in the accusative. mich is accusative of ich; mir is dative, which is incorrect here.
Can I say Peter ruft später mich an?
It’s grammatical but sounds marked. Unstressed object pronouns like mich typically come before time adverbs: Peter ruft mich später an is the natural choice.
Can später go first for emphasis?
Yes: Später ruft Peter mich an. In German main clauses the finite verb still stays in second position.
Why not Peter ruft mich an später?
With separable verbs in a main clause, the prefix (an) must stand at the very end of the clause. Adverbs like später can’t follow it.
How do I ask this as a yes/no question?
Ruft Peter mich später an? Put the conjugated verb first and keep the prefix at the end.
How do I negate it?
Peter ruft mich später nicht an. Place nicht before the separable prefix but after the time adverb.
Is present tense okay for a future meaning?
Yes. German commonly uses the present for planned future actions: Peter ruft mich später an. You can also say Peter wird mich später anrufen, but it’s not required.
What happens in a subordinate clause?
The conjugated verb goes to the end and the prefix reattaches: ..., weil Peter mich später anruft. / ..., dass Peter mich später anruft.
What about with a modal verb?
Use the modal in second position and keep anrufen as an infinitive at the end: Peter will mich später anrufen.
How do I say this in the past?
- Simple past: Peter rief mich später an.
- Present perfect (more common in speech): Peter hat mich später angerufen. Note the participle angerufen (prefix + ge + stem).
Do I need a preposition before the object?
No. Anrufen is transitive: jemanden anrufen (accusative). Don’t say anrufen zu/nach/für jemand.
What is the difference between jemanden anrufen and bei jemandem anrufen?
- jemanden anrufen = call a person: Peter ruft mich an.
- bei jemandem/an einer Stelle anrufen = call at a place/company/number: Peter ruft bei der Firma an.
Is telefonieren a synonym I can use the same way?
Not with the same grammar. telefonieren is intransitive and takes mit + dative: Peter telefoniert später mit mir. It doesn’t take a direct object.
Why is it written split (ruft … an) here but together elsewhere?
Separable verbs split in main clauses (ruft … an). As an infinitive or participle, they’re written together: anrufen, angerufen.
What’s the difference between spät and später?
spät = late; später = later. Here you need später (later).
Where do other time expressions go?
They occupy the same slot as später, typically after pronouns and before the separable prefix: Peter ruft mich morgen um fünf an. You can also front them for emphasis: Morgen um fünf ruft Peter mich an.
Can anything come after an in this kind of main clause?
No. The separable prefix forms the right edge of the clause. Only punctuation or a new clause can follow, not more material from the same clause.