Sein is the German equivalent of the English verb to be. It is a fundamental, irregular verb used to describe identity, states of being, and existence. Because of its importance, sein is indispensable from the very beginning of learning German.
- Meaning: to be
- Function: Expresses identity, states, roles, conditions, and existence
- Type: Highly irregular verb (not following standard conjugation patterns)
'sein' means 'to be' in German.
Conjugation of Sein
Sein is irregular and must be memorized. Here are the conjugations for the present, simple past, and past participle:
| Person | Present | Simple Past | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ich | bin | war | gewesen |
| Du | bist | warst | gewesen |
| Er/Sie/Es | ist | war | gewesen |
| Wir | sind | waren | gewesen |
| Ihr | seid | wart | gewesen |
| Sie/sie | sind | waren | gewesen |
- Present: Used for states, identity, and descriptions
- Simple Past: Used for past states/conditions
- Past Participle: Used with haben or sein for perfect tense
'sind' is the correct form for 'wir' in present tense.
The past participle of 'sein' is 'gewesen'.
Usage with Examples
Present Tense (Präsens)
Used to express being, identity, or state in the present.
| Subject | Sein | English | Example (DE) | Example (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ich | bin | I am | Ich bin müde. | I am tired. |
| Du | bist | You are (sing.) | Du bist freundlich. | You are kind. |
| Er/Sie/Es | ist | He/She/It is | Er ist Lehrer. | He is a teacher. |
| Wir | sind | We are | Wir sind glücklich. | We are happy. |
| Ihr | seid | You are (pl.) | Ihr seid pünktlich. | You (all) are punctual. |
| Sie/sie | sind | They/You (formal) are | Sie sind dort. | They/You are there. |
'Wir sind Studenten' is correct.
Simple Past (Präteritum)
Used mainly in writing for past states or situations.
| Subject | Sein | English (Past) | Example (DE) | Example (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ich | war | I was | Ich war dort. | I was there. |
| Du | warst | You were (sing.) | Du warst müde. | You were tired. |
| Er/Sie/Es | war | He/She/It was | Sie war glücklich. | She was happy. |
| Wir | waren | We were | Wir waren Schüler. | We were students. |
| Ihr | wart | You were (pl.) | Ihr wart laut. | You were loud. |
| Sie/sie | waren | They/You were | Sie waren zufrieden. | They were satisfied. |
The simple past form for 'du' is 'warst'.
Perfect Tense (Perfekt)
Expresses past events; used with the past participle gewesen and the auxiliary verb sein.
| Subject | Auxiliary | Past Participle | English (Perfect) | Example (DE) | Example (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ich | bin | gewesen | I have been | Ich bin müde gewesen. | I have been tired. |
| Du | bist | gewesen | You have been | Du bist dort gewesen. | You have been there. |
| Er/Sie/Es | ist | gewesen | He/She/It has been | Er ist krank gewesen. | He has been sick. |
| Wir | sind | gewesen | We have been | Wir sind Freunde gewesen. | We have been friends. |
| Ihr | seid | gewesen | You have been (pl.) | Ihr seid pünktlich gewesen. | You have been punctual. |
| Sie/sie | sind | gewesen | They/You have been | Sie sind glücklich gewesen. | They have been happy. |
The correct form is 'Sie sind beschäftigt gewesen.'
Conclusion
Sein is an essential, highly irregular German verb meaning to be. It expresses identity, states, and existence across all tenses.
- sein = to be; vital for basics and beyond
- Irregular: bin/bist/ist/sind/seid; past: war/gewesen
- Used for being, becoming, and existing in all contexts