Geben is a German verb that means “to give.” It is an irregular verb in the present tense, a strong verb in the past tense, and uses the auxiliary verb haben in the perfect tense. Geben belongs to both the irregular verbs and strong verbs categories in German grammar.
Example Sentences
Here are some examples of geben in different tenses and contexts:
- Present (Ich gebe dir das Buch.) — I give you the book.
- Perfect (Er hat mir geholfen.) — He has helped me. (Note: inkl. geben)
- Past (Wir gaben ihm das Geld.) — We gave him the money.
- Future (Sie wird ihm einen Brief geben.) — She will give him a letter.
Usage Notes
- Geben takes a dative object for the recipient and an accusative object for what is given.
- It can be used in many idiomatic expressions, such as Gib mir Bescheid! (Let me know!)
- The verb stem changes from geb- to gib- in the du and er/sie/es forms of the present tense.
Summary
- Meaning: to give
- Categories: irregular verbs, strong verbs
- Auxiliary verb: haben
- Stem changes: geb- → gib- (du, er/sie/es)
- Usage: dative (recipient) + accusative (thing given)
- Common expressions: Gib mir ... , Geben Sie ... , Es gibt ...
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
