Denken is the German verb for "to think." It is used whenever you want to express thinking, believing, considering, or reflecting in German. Knowing denken helps you talk about your thoughts, opinions, and mental processes.
- Meaning: to think
- Type: Regular verb (with a slight stem change in some forms)
- Usage: Expressing thoughts, beliefs, opinions, and mental activities
- Related noun: das Denken (thinking), der Gedanke (thought)
Conjugation: Present (Präsens)
Denken is a stem verb with a stem change in some forms: denken → denk- (ich, du, er/sie/es, wir, sie), but the du and er/sie/es forms get an added "st" and "t" like a regular verb.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | denke | I think |
| du | denkst | you think (sing.) |
| er/sie/es | denkt | he/she/it thinks |
| wir | denken | we think |
| ihr | denkt | you think (pl.) |
| sie/Sie | denken | they/you think |
- ich denke: I think
- du denkst: You think
- er/sie/es denkt: He/she/it thinks
- wir denken: We think
- ihr denkt: You all think
- sie/Sie denken: They/You (formal) think
The correct translation of 'du denkst' is 'you think' (singular, informal).
The correct form for both 'we' and 'they' is 'denken'.
Conjugation: Simple Past (Präteritum)
In the past tense, denken is slightly irregular: the stem becomes dach-.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | dachte | I thought |
| du | dachtest | you thought |
| er/sie/es | dachte | he/she/it thought |
| wir | dachten | we thought |
| ihr | dachtet | you thought (pl.) |
| sie/Sie | dachten | they/you thought |
- ich dachte: I thought
- du dachtest: You thought
- er/sie/es dachte: He/she/it thought
The correct simple past form for 'ich' is 'dachte'.
For 'we' it's 'dachten' and for 'you (pl.)' it's 'dachtet'.
Usage with Modal and Auxiliary Verbs
You can use denken as a main verb with modal verbs or in subordinate clauses.
- Ich muss (an) denken. – I must think about it.
- Wenn ich denke, ... – When I think...
Note: As a main verb, denken is usually used without a direct object. When referring to remembering, use denken an + accusative (e.g., Ich denke an dich. – I think of you.).
The verb 'denken' is typically used with the preposition 'an' when referring to thinking about someone or something.
You use the infinitive 'denken' with modals: 'Ich muss denken', 'Du darfst nicht denken'.
Denken in a Sentence
- Ich denke, dass... – I think that...
- Was denkst du? – What do you think?
- Wir denken oft an ... – We often think about...
- Sie denken gleich. – They think alike.
The correct expression is 'Ich denke, dass...'.
Correct are 'Was denkst du?', 'Ich denke...', and the imperative form 'Denken wir nach!'.
Conclusion
Denken is a vital German verb for expressing thoughts and opinions. Its slight stem change and past tense irregularity are key points to remember.
- Use denken for all things related to thinking and reflecting.
- Present and past tenses have unique stems: denk- (present), dach- (past).
- Pair with an when thinking about someone or something specific.