OK, lots to unpack from this one. Sometimes, German can feel like a beautifully structured language. At other times, a complete mess. What’s happening with the ver- prefix is currently beyond me. A few examples:

• stehen means to stand, verstehen means to understand. 2 totally different words, where the meaning is completely changed by the addition of the ver- prefix
• kaufen means to buy, verkaufen means to sell! The problem is with the unpredictability of the change that the prefix brings about. In this case, it represents the opposite of the original word.
• suchen means to search/seek/look, versuchen means to try/attempt! WTF!! And, as if this wasn’t enough, we were introduced to besuchen today, which means to visit! This is so confusing!

I seem to be finally getting the hang of the I have to x sentences, which in german basically mean “I have the lust in order to do x”. The “in order to” intention is also expressed in the the “I try to do x” sentences. An example

• I will try to buy it for them tomorrow
  • Intention -> I will try in order to buy it for them tomorrow
  • Translation -> ich will versuche es morgen sie zu kaufen