The German Perfekt (Present Perfect) tense is used to talk about actions that have been completed. It is formed with two parts:
- An auxiliary verb (haben or sein) in the present tense
- A past participle (Partizip II)
Example:
Ich habe das Buch gelesen.
(I have read the book.)
Forming the Past Participle
- Regular verbs: Add ge- at the beginning and -t at the end.
machen → gemacht*
- Irregular verbs: Use the stem change and add ge-...-en.
sehen → gesehen*
- Verbs with prefixes:
- If the prefix is separable, ge- goes after the prefix.
aufmachen → aufgemacht*
- If the prefix is inseparable (be-, ver-, ent-, etc.), no ge- is added.
vergessen → vergessen*
Choosing the Auxiliary: haben or sein
- Use sein with verbs that indicate movement or change of state and have no direct object.
gehen → Ich bin gegangen.*
aufwachen → Ich bin aufgewacht.
- Use haben with most other verbs, including all transitive verbs.
lesen → Ich habe gelesen.*
spielen → Ich habe gespielt.
Which auxiliary verb do you use with the verb 'aufstehen' (to get up)?
sein
Aufstehen is a movement verb with a separable prefix and uses sein.
Word Order
- The auxiliary verb (haben/sein) is in the second position.
- The past participle goes to the end of the clause.
Example:
Heute habe ich einen Kuchen gebacken.
(Today I have baked a cake.)
Where does the past participle go in a German sentence in Perfekt tense?
At the end of the clause
The past participle is placed at the very end of the clause.
Examples
German Example | English Example |
---|---|
Ich habe den Film gesehen. | I have seen the movie. |
Sie ist nach Hause gegangen. | She has gone home. |
Wir haben Fußball gespielt. | We have played soccer. |
Er ist spät aufgewacht. | He has woken up late. |
The Perfekt tense is commonly used in spoken German to describe past events. In writing, you might also see the Präteritum (simple past) tense.
For help with irregular past participles and more examples, see Irregular Verbs and Separable Prefixes.
Flashcards (1 of 4)
- English Example: I have seen the movie.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025