Irregular verb tables 2 (Edexcel GCSE German): Revision Notes
Irregular verb tables 2
Understanding irregular verbs
Irregular verbs are among the most important words you'll need for your GCSE German exam. Unlike regular verbs, these don't follow standard patterns when they change form, so you need to memorise their key parts.
This table shows you the essential forms of common irregular verbs. You'll need to know the infinitive (the basic form), the 3rd person present singular (he/she/it form), the 3rd person imperfect singular (he/she/it past form), and the past participle (used for perfect tense).
Learning irregular verbs requires consistent practice and repetition. Try to learn a few verbs thoroughly rather than attempting to memorise large lists all at once. Focus on the verbs you'll use most frequently in everyday conversation and writing.
Perfect tense auxiliary verbs
Most German verbs use haben (to have) to form the perfect tense, but some verbs take sein (to be) instead.
Critical Rule for Perfect Tense Formation:
- Verbs marked with * always take sein
- Verbs marked with (*) can take either haben or sein depending on whether they have a direct object
Getting this wrong is a common mistake that can cost marks in your exam!
Essential irregular verbs
Daily actions and communication
The verbs in this section are fundamental for describing everyday activities and communication. These appear frequently in both spoken and written German.
| Infinitive | Meaning | 3rd person present | 3rd person imperfect | Past participle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nehmen | to take | nimmt | nahm | genommen |
| rufen | to call | ruft | rief | gerufen |
| scheinen | to shine | scheint | schien | geschienen |
| schließen | to shut | schließt | schloss | geschlossen |
| schreiben | to write | schreibt | schrieb | geschrieben |
These verbs appear frequently in everyday German. Nehmen is particularly common - you'll use it for taking transport, taking photos, or taking things generally. Schreiben is essential for talking about writing letters, emails, or homework.
Worked Examples: Daily Actions
Er nimmt den Bus zur Schule. (He takes the bus to school.)
- Uses nehmen in 3rd person present: nimmt
Sie schreibt einen Brief. (She writes a letter.)
- Uses schreiben in 3rd person present: schreibt
Movement and being verbs
This section contains some of the most frequently used verbs in German, including the essential verb sein (to be).
| Infinitive | Meaning | 3rd person present | 3rd person imperfect | Past participle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| schwimmen | to swim | schwimmt | schwamm | geschwommen (*) |
| sehen | to see | sieht | sah | gesehen |
| sein | to be | ist | war | gewesen * |
| singen | to sing | singt | sang | gesungen |
| sitzen | to sit | sitzt | saß | gesessen |
Sein is one of the most important verbs in German - you'll use it constantly. Notice it takes sein as its auxiliary verb in the perfect tense. Sehen is vital for describing what you see or watch.
Worked Examples: Being and Movement
Ich bin müde. (I am tired.)
- Uses sein in 1st person present: bin
Wir sehen einen Film. (We see/watch a film.)
- Uses sehen in 1st person plural present: sehen
Communication and necessity
This group includes modal verbs and verbs essential for expressing communication and obligation.
| Infinitive | Meaning | 3rd person present | 3rd person imperfect | Past participle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| sollen | ought to | soll | sollte | gesollt |
| sprechen | to speak | spricht | sprach | gesprochen |
| stehen | to stand | steht | stand | gestanden * |
| steigen | to climb | steigt | stieg | gestiegen * |
| tragen | to carry | trägt | trug | getragen |
Sollen is a modal verb expressing obligation or recommendation. Sprechen is essential for talking about languages and communication.
Modal verbs like sollen have a special pattern - they often don't change their vowel in the singular present tense forms, making them slightly easier to remember than other irregular verbs.
Worked Examples: Communication
Du sollst deine Hausaufgaben machen. (You ought to do your homework.)
- Uses sollen in 2nd person present: sollst
Sie spricht drei Sprachen. (She speaks three languages.)
- Uses sprechen in 3rd person present: spricht
Meeting and drinking verbs
This section includes common social verbs and the critically important verb werden.
| Infinitive | Meaning | 3rd person present | 3rd person imperfect | Past participle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| treffen | to meet | trifft | traf | getroffen |
| treten | to step | tritt | trat | getreten |
| trinken | to drink | trinkt | trank | getrunken |
| vergessen | to forget | vergisst | vergaß | vergessen |
| werden | to become | wird | wurde | geworden * |
Werden is incredibly important as it's used to form the future tense and passive voice. Trinken and treffen are common in everyday conversations.
Werden is one of the three most important verbs in German (along with sein and haben). It's not just used for "becoming" - you need it for:
- Future tense: Ich werde gehen (I will go)
- Passive voice: Das Haus wird gebaut (The house is being built)
Worked Examples: Social Verbs
Ich treffe meine Freunde im Park. (I meet my friends in the park.)
- Uses treffen in 1st person present: treffe
Er wird Lehrer. (He becomes/is becoming a teacher.)
- Uses werden in 3rd person present: wird
Knowledge and movement
The final group includes essential verbs for expressing knowledge and physical actions.
| Infinitive | Meaning | 3rd person present | 3rd person imperfect | Past participle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| wissen | to know | weiß | wusste | gewusst |
| wollen | to want to | will | wollte | gewollt |
| ziehen | to pull | zieht | zog | gezogen |
Wissen means "to know facts" (different from kennen which means "to be familiar with"). Wollen is a modal verb expressing desire or intention.
Don't confuse wissen (to know facts) with kennen (to be familiar with people or places). This is a common mistake - use wissen for information and kennen for people and places you're familiar with.
Worked Examples: Knowledge
Ich weiß die Antwort nicht. (I don't know the answer.)
- Uses wissen in 1st person present: weiß
Wir wollen ins Kino gehen. (We want to go to the cinema.)
- Uses wollen in 1st person plural present: wollen
Exam guidance
Understanding the exam requirements will help you focus your revision effectively and avoid spending time on unnecessary details.
Exam Tier Requirements:
The highlighted verb forms are required for both Foundation and Higher tier students. Additional forms shown are for Higher tier only. Focus your revision time on the highlighted forms first, as these are essential for all students.
Non-highlighted forms are included for reference but aren't required for the exam, so don't worry if you find them challenging.
Key Points to Remember:
- Master the highlighted forms first - these are essential for all tiers
- Learn which verbs take sein - marked with * or (*)
- Practise the most common verbs - sein, haben, werden, gehen, kommen appear constantly
- Group similar verbs together when revising to spot patterns
- Use these verbs in sentences - don't just memorise lists, practise using them in context