Deutschlisch

Zusammen oder getrennt?

This is a valid question not only at the end of a meal in a restaurant that we shared with others…

This question also applies to German spelling. Do you know how to write verb combinations like kommen hören, sitzen bleiben or kennen lernen?
The German spelling reform that was supposed to give definite answers to that was followed by yet another reform that made things ambiguous again.

The general rules is: Two verbs are usually written separately

Exceptions:
kennenlernen & kennen lernen are both correct

when the second of the verbs is lassen or bleiben and the meaning of the phrase is figurative they can be written together or separately
e.g. im Regen stehenlassen or stehen lassen

Conclusion: writing separately you’re always on the safe side.