Verb conjugation is the process by which verbs change their form to express different subjects (who is doing the action), tenses (when the action happens), and sometimes moods (the nature of the action). In German, this is essential for making sentences correct and clear.
- A1-level learners start with the present tense and the simplest patterns.
- Verbs are matched to their subjects through specific endings.
- Both regular and irregular verbs are covered, with most new learners focusing on regular verbs first.
German verb conjugation connects the verb to the subject and the time frame (tense) of the action.
German A1 learners focus mainly on present tense for initial verb conjugation.
The subject pronouns for conjugation are ich, du, er/sie/es, wir, ihr, sie/Sie.
Regular Conjugation Patterns
The stem is the part left after dropping -en/-n from the infinitive.
The endings are -e, -st, -t, -en, -t, -en for ich, du, er/sie/es, wir, ihr, sie/Sie.
Regular verb infinitives end in -en and include machen, spielen, arbeiten.
The endings match ich, du, er/sie/es, wir, ihr, sie/Sie.
Typical endings for regular verbs are:
| Subject | Pronoun | Ending | Example: machen |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | ich | -e | mache |
| You (sing.) | du | -st | machst |
| He/She/It | er/sie/es | -t | macht |
| We | wir | -en | machen |
| You (pl.) | ihr | -t | macht |
| They/You(form.) | sie/Sie | -en | machen |
- Infinitive form: ...-en (e.g., machen)
- Remove -en from infinitive to find stem (mach-)
- Attach endings to stem
Removing -en, the stem of 'spielen' is 'spiel-'.
'They play' is 'Sie spielen', and 'You (plural) play' is 'Ihr spielt'.
'lernen' follows the regular pattern and is a regular verb.
Regular verbs include machen, lernen, wohnen.
Irregular Conjugation Patterns
Some irregular verbs change their stem vowel for 'du' and 'er/sie/es'.
Being common irregular verbs are sein, haben, werden, and even gehen.
'Ich bin' for I am; 'Du bist' for you are.
Because 'fahren' is irregular, it's 'du fährst' and 'er/sie/es fährt'.
'haben' is irregular in its stem changes for some forms.
'sein' is: ich bin, du bist, er/sie/es ist, wir sind.
Conclusion
German verb conjugation is vital for building correct and meaningful sentences. At the A1 level, mastering regular conjugation patterns and recognizing key irregular verbs sets a strong foundation for further learning.
- Verbs change according to the subject and tense.
- Regular verbs follow a predictable pattern around the stem.
- Irregular verbs may change their stem or use unique forms.