- Definition: to do, to make
- Part of speech: verb (regular)
- Conjugation pattern: follows the regular -en verb pattern, adding -e where needed (e.g., ich mache).
- Past participle: gemacht
- Auxiliary verb: haben (used in perfect tenses)
- Usage: can express creating something, performing an action, or forming idiomatic expressions.
- Common compounds: ausmachen (to turn off), anmachen (to turn on), fertig machen (to finish), sich machen auf (to set off)
- Note: Context determines whether machen means “do” or “make.”
Regular Conjugation
Machen follows a standard pattern used by most German verbs ending in -en. It adds -e in the first and third person singular to ease pronunciation.
| Pronoun | German Singular | English Singular | German Plural | English Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ich | mache | I do / I make | machen | we do / we make |
| du | machst | you do / you make | macht | you (all) do / you (all) make |
| er/sie/es | macht | he/she/it does / makes | machen | they do / they make |
Stem Changes
There are no stem changes in machen. It remains mach- throughout all forms.
- Singular forms add -e or -st/-t as per regular rules.
- Plural forms simply add -en or -t without altering the stem.
Usage
Machen is a general-purpose verb used to talk about doing tasks, making things, or forming other expressions.
- Machen Sie die Hausaufgaben. (Do the homework.)
- Ich mache einen Kuchen. (I’m making a cake.)
- Was machst du? (What are you doing?)
- Das macht nichts. (That doesn’t matter.)
Translate into English: Ich mache einen Kuchen.
I’m making a cake.
'Ich mache einen Kuchen.' means 'I’m making a cake.'
Past and Perfect Forms
Machen uses the auxiliary verb haben and the past participle gemacht to form perfect tenses.
| Tense | Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|
| Perfekt | Ich habe die Arbeit gemacht. | I have done the work. |
| Präteritum | Ich machte die Arbeit. | I did the work. |
- The simple past (Präteritum) form machte is regular and less common in speech.
- The perfect (Perfekt) form uses habe gemacht and is more commonly spoken.
Conjugate machen in the perfect tense: Wir haben die Aufgabe _______.
gemacht
The past participle 'gemacht' is used with 'haben' to form the perfect tense.
Reflexive and Compound Forms
Some expressions use machen in a reflexive or compound form to change or specify meaning.
- sich (Dat.) machen: to get ready (e.g., Ich mache mich fertig. — I’m getting ready.)
- fertig machen: to finish or prepare something
- ausmachen: to turn off or to matter (e.g., Kannst du das Licht ausmachen? — Can you turn off the light?)
- anmachen: to turn on or to hit on (e.g., Er macht das Radio an. — He turns on the radio.)
Tips for Learners
Machen is often used in fixed phrases and idioms, so context is key. When in doubt, look for additional clues to see if machen means “do” or “make.”
- etwas machen can mean either “do something” or “make something.”
- Many compound verbs with machen change the base meaning (e.g., anmachen ≠ machen).
- Practice common idioms and compounds to build confidence.
Summary
Machen is a regular German verb meaning “to do” or “to make.” It is widely used in everyday language, appears in many compound verbs and fixed expressions, and follows a simple conjugation pattern with no stem changes.
By mastering machen, you can express a wide range of basic actions and improve your overall German fluency.
Flashcards (1 of 5)
- Pronoun: ich
- English Singular: I do / I make
- English Plural: we do / we make
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
