Erklären is a German verb meaning "to explain." It describes the act of making something clear or understandable to someone else. Erklären is a regular verb, so it follows the standard conjugation patterns of -en verbs in German.
- Meaning: to explain
- Verb type: Regular -en verb
- Usage: When clarifying, interpreting, or making something understandable
Conjugation: Erklären
Erklären is a typical regular verb. Its stem is erklär- and it takes standard endings for each tense.
'erklär-' is the correct stem used for conjugation.
| Tense | Example (ich) | Notes/Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Present | ich erkläre | I explain / I am explaining |
| Simple Past (Präteritum) | ich erklärte | I explained |
| Past Participle | erklärt | explained (used in Perfekt) |
| Perfekt | ich habe erklärt | I have explained |
| Future | ich werde erklären | I will explain |
Present Tense
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| ich | erkläre |
| du | erklärst |
| er/sie/es | erklärt |
| wir | erklären |
| ihr | erklärt |
| sie/Sie | erklären |
'erklärst' is the correct form for 'du'.
Simple Past (Präteritum)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| ich | erklärte |
| du | erklärtest |
| er/sie/es | erklärte |
| wir | erklärten |
| ihr | erklärtet |
| sie/Sie | erklärten |
Past Participle
- erklärt
Perfekt
- ich habe erklärt (and similarly for other persons: du hast erklärt, er hat erklärt, etc.)
Future
- ich werde erklären (with werden + infinitive)
Usage Examples
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Kannst du das bitte erklären? | Can you explain that, please? |
| Der Lehrer erklärt die Aufgabe. | The teacher explains the task. |
| Wir haben alles erklärt. | We have explained everything. |
| Sie werden den Plan erklären. | They will explain the plan. |
Correct usage in present: 'Der Dozent erklärt das Thema.', 'Wir erklären es morgen.'
Conclusion
Erklären is a useful regular verb in German for expressing the act of making things clear, whether in conversation, teaching, or writing.
- It means "to explain."
- It is conjugated like other regular -en verbs.
- Commonly used in both spoken and written contexts.
'erklären' means 'to explain.'