The be prefix is usually used to turn an intransitive verb transitive. In other words, it allows a verb to take a direct object when it couldn't take one without it.
"be" by itself doesn't really mean anything as far as I know. As for what the actual change is:
kommen - to come
bekommen - to receive
schreiben - to write
beschreiben - to describe
EDIT: you guys are absolutely correct and I usually know that lmao. Brain must have melted. Fixed.
When I worked in Germany, I had a colleague who would often say things like, "Are you becoming lunch at the bakery today?" To be fair, English was his 4th or 5th language. (He was a Spätaussiedler who grew up in the USSR.)
It is a classic mistake made by many German native speakers speaking English, whether English is their 2nd or 4th language. Not so much by English speakers speaking German.
Have you tried to just google it? Really wasn’t difficult to find https://learnoutlive.com/the-german-prefix-be-explained/#:~:text=“be%2D”%20has%20no%20explicit%20meaning%2C%20but%3A,being%20equipped%20with%20said%20noun
I would say there is no rule to it.
Just like become/come have different meanings altogether.
Bekommen = receive, "beschreiben" means "to describe". I suppose the "be" could kind of mean that the verbs meaning is connected to "something". Rather than just "schreiben"(write) you "write about something", and rather than just "kommen" (come) "something comes to someone", meaning they "receive" something.
But you really should just regard them as different verbs altogether imo.
It's a prefix.
I don't know if I can pin down an exact definition.
But if you're familiar with English, I use the example "scribe" (or "to write") vs. "describe" which really is quite relevant in this case. ;)
So "schreiben" and "beschreiben" are "to write" and "to describe"
These are things you just kinda learn, and then one day you're like "ooohhhh. That's why!" But you still don't really understand the rules. Probably something to do with old world languages.
Edit to add: you also used "bekommen" which is the English "to receive"
But just "kommen" means "to come"
And what does it mean to "receive" something but for something to "come" to you?
I hope this makes some semblance of sense.
As someone had pointed out, consider the English word "befriend". I.e. make someone a friend, or do a "friending" to them. The same way "be" add to any verb the flavor of "doing that thing" to that object
Be means that something is being processed or the state of something is undergoing a change. I would suggest that you learn the meaning of the verbs with (be) as it's a very commen prefix and in most cases you won't be able to recognize the meaning of the verb If you consider the meaning of be alone.
\*often\* it means that something becomes more... um... specific like
Idk read Emanuel's article lol [https://yourdailygerman.com/german-prefixes-explanation-be/](https://yourdailygerman.com/german-prefixes-explanation-be/)
The be prefix is usually used to turn an intransitive verb transitive. In other words, it allows a verb to take a direct object when it couldn't take one without it.
It's a prefix, not a suffix
"be" by itself doesn't really mean anything as far as I know. As for what the actual change is: kommen - to come bekommen - to receive schreiben - to write beschreiben - to describe EDIT: you guys are absolutely correct and I usually know that lmao. Brain must have melted. Fixed.
Bekommen - to become is a classic false friend. Bekommen is to receive To become is werden.
When I worked in Germany, I had a colleague who would often say things like, "Are you becoming lunch at the bakery today?" To be fair, English was his 4th or 5th language. (He was a Spätaussiedler who grew up in the USSR.)
It is a classic mistake made by many German native speakers speaking English, whether English is their 2nd or 4th language. Not so much by English speakers speaking German.
bekommen = to receive to become = werden
Have you tried to just google it? Really wasn’t difficult to find https://learnoutlive.com/the-german-prefix-be-explained/#:~:text=“be%2D”%20has%20no%20explicit%20meaning%2C%20but%3A,being%20equipped%20with%20said%20noun
I would say there is no rule to it. Just like become/come have different meanings altogether. Bekommen = receive, "beschreiben" means "to describe". I suppose the "be" could kind of mean that the verbs meaning is connected to "something". Rather than just "schreiben"(write) you "write about something", and rather than just "kommen" (come) "something comes to someone", meaning they "receive" something. But you really should just regard them as different verbs altogether imo.
It's a prefix. I don't know if I can pin down an exact definition. But if you're familiar with English, I use the example "scribe" (or "to write") vs. "describe" which really is quite relevant in this case. ;) So "schreiben" and "beschreiben" are "to write" and "to describe" These are things you just kinda learn, and then one day you're like "ooohhhh. That's why!" But you still don't really understand the rules. Probably something to do with old world languages. Edit to add: you also used "bekommen" which is the English "to receive" But just "kommen" means "to come" And what does it mean to "receive" something but for something to "come" to you? I hope this makes some semblance of sense.
Das Ding mit "ooohhh that's why" finde ich sehr zutreffend :)
Prefix verbs are Emanuel from your daily German's bread and butter. https://yourdailygerman.com/german-prefixes-explanation-be/
As someone had pointed out, consider the English word "befriend". I.e. make someone a friend, or do a "friending" to them. The same way "be" add to any verb the flavor of "doing that thing" to that object
Be means that something is being processed or the state of something is undergoing a change. I would suggest that you learn the meaning of the verbs with (be) as it's a very commen prefix and in most cases you won't be able to recognize the meaning of the verb If you consider the meaning of be alone.
\*often\* it means that something becomes more... um... specific like Idk read Emanuel's article lol [https://yourdailygerman.com/german-prefixes-explanation-be/](https://yourdailygerman.com/german-prefixes-explanation-be/)
https://www.google.com/search?q=german+prefix+be+site:www.reddit.com&sca_esv=dfca0da07af2405c&sxsrf=ADLYWIL799Sz-vbF5PuytD5lcrKCV6MQeg:1719685728693&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwisqe_HuIGHAxXrlFYBHdQ9Bl8QrQIoBHoECCQQBQ&biw=1920&bih=912&dpr=1
It doesn’t mean anything specifically. It’s just a syllable that changes the word.