lied@ihlts.UUCP (Doctor Bob) (04/24/84)
This is a German-ism. German has these strange constructions where you move the prefix of the verb to the end of the sentence. The prefixes are usually prepositions indicating direction. "Mitkommen" ends up in sentences like "Kommen Sie mit?" These forms come from good, god-fearing verbs like "kommen", and the prefix changes the meaning subtly. They can also be lots of fun in language classes. I remember when we were introduced to "anbieten" (to offer an object to, as "Er bietet mir das Buch an" -- he offered me the book). There were lots of snickers about the complementary form "off-bieten." Bob "Ach du lieber" Lied ihnp4!ihlts!lied