helfen is an irregular verb in German that means "to help." It is a dative verb, which means it requires the dative case for the person who is being helped.
Meaning and Usage
- helfen means "to help" or "to assist" someone.
- It always takes a dative object (the person being helped).
- It can be used in various tenses and moods.
- Common in both spoken and written German.
Example:
- Ich helfe dir. (I help you.)
Which German sentence correctly means 'I help you' using the verb helfen?
Ich helfe dir.
**helfen** requires the dative case, so 'dir' (to you) is correct. The correct first-person singular form is 'helfe.'
Conjugation
helfen is irregular and uses the stem helf- in most forms but changes to hilf- in some. The past participle is geholfen, and the simple past stem is half-.
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Additional Usage Examples
- Kannst du mir helfen? (Can you help me?)
- Wir helfen unseren Eltern. (We help our parents.)
- Er hat gestern geholfen. (He helped yesterday.)
Summary
- helfen means "to help."
- Takes a dative object.
- Irregular stem changes: hilf-, helf-, half-.
- Partizip II: geholfen.
- Used in various tenses and contexts.
What stem change occurs in the 2nd and 3rd person singular present forms of helfen?
The stem vowel changes from 'e' to 'i' (hilfst, hilft).
In present tense singular forms for 'du' and 'er/sie/es,' the stem vowel changes to 'i' (hilfst, hilft).
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
