The present tense (AQA GCSE German): Revision Notes
The present tense
The present tense in German is used to describe actions happening now, regular activities, and even future plans. German verbs can be regular (following standard patterns) or irregular (with vowel changes), and understanding these patterns is essential for effective communication.
Regular verbs
Regular verbs in German follow a predictable pattern when conjugated in the present tense. These verbs maintain the same stem throughout all forms, making them easier to learn and use.
To conjugate regular verbs, you need to remove the infinitive ending (-en) from the verb and add the appropriate personal endings. For example, with the verb spielen (to play), you remove the -en to get the stem spiel-, then add the endings.
The infinitive ending in German is almost always -en, though a few verbs end in -n (like sein - to be). Once you remove this ending, you're left with the verb stem that forms the base for all conjugations.
Here's how regular verbs work with their endings:
| Person | Ending | Example (spielen) | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| ich | -e | spiele | I play/am playing |
| du | -st | spielst | you play/are playing |
| er/sie/es | -t | spielt | he/she/it plays |
| wir | -en | spielen | we play/are playing |
| ihr | -t | spielt | you play/are playing |
| Sie/sie | -en | spielen | you/they play/are playing |
Remember that the word man (one/you/people) uses the same form as er/sie/es. This is a common source of confusion for beginners.
Using the present tense with time expressions
The present tense becomes more versatile when combined with time expressions. You can use it with present time words like heute (today), jetzt (now), jeden Tag (every day), or am Wochenende (at the weekend) to describe what's happening now or regularly.
Interestingly, German also uses the present tense with future time expressions to indicate future actions. For instance, Nächste Woche arbeite ich means "I'm working next week" or "I'll be working next week."
There's also a special construction using seit (since/for) with the dative case and a present tense verb to show how long something has been happening. For example, Ich warte seit einer Stunde literally means "I am waiting since an hour" but translates as "I have been waiting for an hour."
Verbs with vowel changes
Some German verbs undergo vowel changes in specific forms while keeping the same endings as regular verbs. These changes only occur in the du and er/sie/es forms, making them relatively straightforward to learn.
Vowel changes in German verbs are not random - they follow specific patterns. Learning these patterns will help you recognise and use irregular verbs correctly. The vowel change only affects the du and er/sie/es forms.
The fahren pattern
Verbs like fahren (to drive/travel) add an umlaut to the vowel in the du and er/sie/es forms:
| Person | Form | English |
|---|---|---|
| ich | fahre | I drive |
| du | fährst | you drive |
| er/sie/es | fährt | he/she/it drives |
| wir | fahren | we drive |
| ihr | fahrt | you drive |
| Sie/sie | fahren | you/they drive |
Pattern Example: fahren → fährt
Other verbs following this pattern include:
- laufen → läuft (to run)
- schlafen → schläft (to sleep)
- tragen → trägt (to carry/wear)
Notice how the vowel 'a' becomes 'ä' in the changed forms.
The sehen pattern
Verbs like sehen (to see) change from 'e' to 'ie' in the du and er/sie/es forms:
| Person | Form | English |
|---|---|---|
| ich | sehe | I see |
| du | siehst | you see |
| er/sie/es | sieht | he/she/it sees |
| wir | sehen | we see |
| ihr | seht | you see |
| Sie/sie | sehen | you/they see |
Pattern Example: sehen → sieht
Similar verbs include:
- essen → isst (to eat)
- helfen → hilft (to help)
- sprechen → spricht (to speak)
- treffen → trifft (to meet)
- vergessen → vergisst (to forget)
- werden → wird (to become)
- werfen → wirft (to throw)
The geben pattern
Verbs like geben (to give) change from 'e' to 'i' in the du and er/sie/es forms:
| Person | Form | English |
|---|---|---|
| ich | gebe | I give |
| du | gibst | you give |
| er/sie/es | gibt | he/she/it gives |
| wir | geben | we give |
| ihr | gebt | you give |
| Sie/sie | geben | you/they give |
The imperative
The imperative mood is used to give instructions or commands. German has three different imperative forms depending on who you're addressing.
Sie form (formal)
For formal situations, invert the present tense verb and subject pronoun. For example, Kommen Sie bitte mit! (Please come with me!). This form is used when addressing people politely or formally.
Ihr form (informal plural)
When addressing a group of people informally, use the present tense verb form without the subject pronoun. For example, Kommt mit! (Come with me!). This is the same as the ihr form of the present tense but without saying ihr.
Du form (informal singular)
For informal situations with one person, use the present tense verb form without the -st ending and without the pronoun du. For example, Komm mit! (Come with me!).
Special considerations for the du form:
- Sometimes an -e may be added: Spiele Basketball! (Play basketball!)
- When an irregular verb has a vowel change, this change appears in the du form imperative: Gib mir das Buch! (Give me the book!)
- However, if an irregular verb has an umlaut, this disappears in the du form imperative: Schlaf gut! (Sleep well!)
Useful vocabulary
| German | English |
|---|---|
| heute | today |
| jetzt | now |
| jeden Tag | every day |
| am Wochenende | at the weekend |
| nächste Woche | next week |
| seit | since/for |
| morgen | tomorrow |
| gern | gladly/like to |
| oft | often |
| am Morgen | in the morning |
Translation practice
Translation Practice
German to English:
- Ich fahre morgen nach Hause.
- Spielst du gern ein Instrument?
English to German: 3. My father often gives me presents. 4. We are going into the city.
Answers:
- I'm driving home tomorrow.
- Do you like playing an instrument?
- Mein Vater gibt mir oft Geschenke.
- Wir gehen in die Stadt.
Key Points to Remember:
- Regular verbs follow the pattern: remove -en, add personal endings (-e, -st, -t, -en, -t, -en)
- Vowel changes only occur in du and er/sie/es forms of irregular verbs
- The present tense can express current actions, habits, and future plans
- The imperative has three forms: formal (Sie), informal plural (ihr), and informal singular (du)
- Time expressions like seit with dative case show duration of ongoing actions