German Present Tense
Präsens
The present tense is the most important tense in German. It is used for present actions, habits, and even future plans in everyday speech.
When to Use Present Tense
The German present tense is very flexible.
Common Mistakes
Learners often struggle with verb endings and word order.
- Forgetting verb-second (V2) word order.
- Using incorrect verb endings for du/er/sie/es.
- Confusing irregular verb forms.
- Separating separable verbs incorrectly.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Before forming a sentence, check the structure.
- Who is the subject?
- What is the correct verb ending?
- Is the verb regular or irregular?
- Is this a separable verb?
- Is the verb in position 2?
Important Irregular Verbs: sein & haben
The verbs 'sein' (to be) and 'haben' (to have) are essential and highly irregular.
| Subject | sein (to be) | haben (to have) |
|---|---|---|
| ich | bin | habe |
| du | bist | hast |
| er/sie/es | ist | hat |
| wir | sind | haben |
| ihr | seid | habt |
| sie/Sie | sind | haben |
What Is the Present Tense?
The present tense (Präsens) is used to describe actions happening now, repeated actions, and sometimes future events that are already planned.
Verb Conjugation Basics
German verbs change their endings depending on the subject.
| Subject | Verb Ending Example (machen = to do/make) |
|---|---|
| ich | mache |
| du | machst |
| er/sie/es | macht |
| wir | machen |
| ihr | macht |
| sie/Sie | machen |
Example Sentences
Regular Verbs
Most German verbs follow predictable patterns in the present tense.
| Infinitive | ich | du | er/sie/es |
|---|---|---|---|
| lernen | lerne | lernst | lernt |
| spielen | spiele | spielst | spielt |
| wohnen | wohne | wohnst | wohnt |
| arbeiten | arbeite | arbeitest | arbeitet |
Irregular Verbs
Some verbs change their stem vowel or behave irregularly.
| Infinitive | ich | du | er/sie/es |
|---|---|---|---|
| sehen | sehe | siehst | sieht |
| sprechen | spreche | sprichst | spricht |
| fahren | fahre | fährst | fährt |
| essen | esse | isst | isst |
Separable Verbs (Intro)
Some German verbs split into two parts in sentences.
- The verb is always in position 2 in statements.
- The subject can move to position 1 or 3, but the verb stays in position 2.
- Time, manner, place usually come after the verb.
- In questions, the verb comes first.
Word Order in Present Tense
German follows strict word order rules in the present tense.