finden
to find
Discovered, located, (can also express opinion: "Ich finde..." = "I think...")
- Infinitive: finden
- Meaning: to find, discover, locate; also used to express opinions
- Usage: Used when you physically or mentally find something, or when you express a personal opinion (Ich finde das gut. – I find that good/ I like that).
- Related noun: der Fund (the find)
*finden* means 'to find' in German.
*finden* is used for discovering/locating things and also for expressing opinions.
Conjugation
"finden" is an irregular verb (strong verb) and changes its stem in the present and past tenses.
| Tense | ich | du | er/sie/es | wir | ihr | sie/Sie |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present | finde | findest | findet | finden | findet | finden |
| Simple Past | fand | fandest | fand | fanden | fandet | fanden |
| Past Participle | gefunden (used with haben) | |||||
| Perfekt | habe gefunden* | (do not memorize fully for all subjects: use haben + gefunden) |
- Present: ich finde, du findest, er findet, wir finden, ihr findet, sie finden
- Simple Past: ich fand, du fandest, er fand, wir fanden, ihr fandet, sie fanden
- Past Participle: gefunden (with haben → haben gefunden)
The past participle of 'finden' is 'gefunden'.
'They found' is 'Sie fanden' in German.
Usage & Examples
Meaning: To Find / To Discover
- Ich finde meinen Schlüssel nicht.
I can't find my keys.
- Sie finden bald eine Lösung.
They will find a solution soon.
- Wir haben einen neuen Ort gefunden.
We found a new place. (Perfekt)
Meaning: To Form an Opinion (colloquial)
- Wie findest du den Film?
How do you find the movie? (What do you think of the movie?)
- Ich finde das Essen lecker.
I find the food tasty. (I think the food is tasty.)
Important Notes
- For opinions, finden is often used with adjectives or expressions:
Ich finde das spannend. (I find that exciting / That seems exciting to me.)
- The past participle gefunden is used with haben in perfect tenses:
Ich habe meinen Stift gefunden. (I have found my pen.)
'finden' can be used to express opinions, e.g., 'Ich finde das gut.'
'finden' uses 'haben' as the auxiliary in the perfect tense.
'finden' is used for locating or giving opinions, not for just being or walking.
The infinitive is 'finden'.
Ich fand (simple past) or Ich habe gefunden (perfect).
'We found' and 'you all found' are 'Wir fanden' and 'Ihr fandet'.
The past participle is 'gefunden' (haben gefunden).
Conclusion
finden is an essential German verb for expressing both the act of discovering and sharing opinions. Its irregular forms and dual usage make it a rewarding verb to master for everyday conversations.
- finden means "to find" and can also express opinions ("Ich finde...").
- It's a strong verb: ich finde / fand / habe gefunden.
- Use it for locating things or giving your view on something.