The prefix of a separable compound verb is sometimes attached to, and sometimes separated from its verb. In the chapter about [separable compound verbs](#/lesson/Verbs.Co04), you can read about the situations in which the prefix and verb are separated. In this section, we are more concerned about the position of the prefix when it appears as a separate word.
As you can see in the graph below, the prefix immediately precedes the OV.
As long as the prefix remains attached to its verb, we will not encounter any problems placing it. The prefix remains part of its verb if the verb has the form of an infinitive or past participle. The infinitive and past participle can only be used in the OV. Recall, that in the FF they are always conjugated in the simple present or simple past.
Infinitive:
[FF](#/lesson/WordOrder.04) | [DIROB](#/lesson/WordOrder.16) | [OV](#/lesson/WordOrder.24)
De tulpen zullen | ontzettend veel water | opnemen
The tulips will absorb a lot of water.
Past participle:
[FF](#/lesson/WordOrder.04) | [DIROB](#/lesson/WordOrder.16) | [OV](#/lesson/WordOrder.24)
De tulpen hebben | heel veel water | opgenomen
The tulips have absorbed a lot of water.
There are two cases where the PF is separated from its verb:
- The separable compound verb is the finite verb
- The separable compound verb is part of the OV that contains more than one verb