*folgen* means "to follow."
folgen is the German verb for "to follow," used when someone pursues, tracks, or adheres to something or someone. It is a regular verb often used in contexts like following instructions, advice, people, or trends.
- folgen = to follow
- Used for following people, advice, instructions, trends, etc.
- Common in both literal and figurative contexts
Conjugation: Present Tense (Indicative)
folgen is a regular verb conjugated like most verbs ending in -en.
| Person | German | English |
|---|---|---|
| ich | folge | I follow |
| du | folgst | you follow (sing.) |
| er/sie/es | folgt | he/she/it follows |
| wir | folgen | we follow |
| ihr | folgt | you follow (pl.) |
| sie/Sie | folgen | they/You follow |
- Root: folg-
- Regular endings with a slight adjustment for du and ihr: -st, -t
The correct *du* form is *du folgst*.
Past Tense: Perfekt
As a verb of motion/influence, folgen uses sein as its auxiliary in the perfect tense:
Perfekt:
- ich bin gefolgt (I have followed)
- du bist gefolgt
- er/sie/es ist gefolgt
- wir sind gefolgt
- ihr seid gefolgt
- sie/Sie sind gefolgt
- Past Participle: gefolgt
- Auxiliary: sein
*folgen* uses *sein* as the auxiliary verb.
Usage and Examples
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich folge dir. | I follow you. |
| Er folgt dem Rat. | He follows the advice. |
| Wir folgen den Regeln. | We follow the rules. |
| Folgen Sie mir! | Follow me! (formal) |
- Can be used with dative: jemandem folgen (to follow someone)
- Common in instructions: Folgen Sie den Anweisungen! (Follow the instructions!)
*folgen* takes the dative case when following a person.
Conclusion
folgen is a key verb for expressing the idea of "following" in German, with specific conjugation and auxiliary rules that set it apart.
- folgen = to follow
- Regular verb, uses sein in perfect tense
- Requires dative case for people/events followed