Meaning and Usage
The verb stehen in German means to stand in English. It describes the position of being upright on the feet or being located in a vertical or upright position. Additionally, it can be used metaphorically, such as when describing how something "stands" in terms of condition or situation.
Conjugation Overview
Stehen is an irregular verb with a stem change in some forms. It is a strong verb, so its past tense and past participle forms are irregular. Below is the conjugation in the present tense.
Present Tense Conjugation of Stehen
| German Pronoun | German Conjugation | English Conjugation | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ich | stehe | I stand | Ich stehe am Fenster. | I stand at the window. |
| du | stehst | you stand | Du stehst neben mir. | You stand next to me. |
| er/sie/es | steht | he/she/it stands | Er steht auf der Bühne. | He stands on the stage. |
| wir | stehen | we stand | Wir stehen im Park. | We stand in the park. |
| ihr | steht | you (plural) stand | Ihr steht vor dem Haus. | You stand in front of the house. |
| sie/Sie | stehen | they/You (formal) stand | Sie stehen im Raum. | They stand in the room. |
Past Tenses
In the simple past (Präteritum), the verb stehen also changes irregularly. The past participle is formed irregularly as well and is important for perfect tenses.
| Tense | Verb Form | Example German | Example English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Past | stand | Ich stand dort lange. | I stood there for a long time. |
| Present Perfect | hat gestanden | Er hat den ganzen Tag gestanden. | He has stood the whole day. |
Additional Notes
Stehen can also be used in various compound constructions and idiomatic expressions, such as das steht fest (that is certain) or an etwas/jemandem stehen (to be fond of something/someone). It belongs to the group of verbs that show vowel alternation in past forms and participles.
