Sein and haben (Edexcel GCSE German): Revision Notes
Sein and haben
Overview
Sein (to be) and haben (to have) are the two most important and frequently used verbs in German. You'll need them in every context, but they're also among the most irregular verbs. Mastering these verbs is essential for your GCSE German exam as they appear in all tenses and are used to form compound tenses.
These two verbs are the foundation of German grammar. You cannot communicate effectively in German without mastering their forms, so investing time in memorising their conjugations will pay off throughout your studies.
Present tense conjugations
Both sein and haben have irregular conjugation patterns that you must memorise. These forms are used constantly in German conversation and writing.
Unlike regular German verbs, sein and haben do not follow standard conjugation rules. Each form must be learned individually through practice and repetition.
Conjugation table
| Person | sein | haben |
|---|---|---|
| ich | bin | habe |
| du | bist | hast |
| er/sie/es/man | ist | hat |
| wir | sind | haben |
| ihr | seid | habt |
| Sie/sie | sind | haben |
Example sentences
- Ich bin müde. (I am tired.)
- Du hast Glück. (You are lucky.)
- Wir sind Studenten. (We are students.)
- Sie haben Zeit. (They have time.)
Common expressions with haben
Many German expressions use haben where English would use "to be". These are idiomatic expressions that don't translate word-for-word, so you need to learn them as fixed phrases.
These expressions with haben are extremely common in German and often confuse English speakers. Don't try to translate them literally - learn them as complete phrases.
Key expressions
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Angst haben | to be afraid |
| Durst haben | to be thirsty |
| Glück haben | to be lucky |
| Hunger haben | to be hungry |
| Lust haben | to want to/feel like (doing something) |
| Zeit haben | to have time |
Example sentences in context
- Hab keine Angst! (Don't be afraid!)
- Hast du Hunger? (Are you hungry?)
- Ich habe Durst! (I'm thirsty!)
- Ich habe Lust, einen Film zu sehen. (I feel like seeing a film.)
Imperfect tense
The imperfect tense (simple past) is used for describing past states, ongoing actions, or habitual actions in the past. Both sein and haben are irregular in the imperfect tense.
Formation Example: Creating Imperfect Forms
Step 1: Identify the irregular stems
- Sein → war-
- Haben → hat-
Step 2: Add appropriate endings
- ich war (I was)
- du warst (you were)
- er/sie/es war (he/she/it was)
- wir waren (we were)
- ihr wart (you were - plural)
- Sie/sie waren (you/they were - formal/plural)
Example sentences with translations
- Ich war müde. (I was tired.)
- Wir waren müde. (We were tired.)
- Warst du müde? (Were you tired?)
- Er hatte Angst. (He was afraid.)
- Wir hatten Angst, dass... (We were afraid that...)
- Hattest du keine Angst? (Weren't you afraid?)
Perfect tense
The perfect tense is formed using an auxiliary verb (haben or sein) plus a past participle. This tense is crucial for expressing completed actions in the past.
Past participles
- Haben → gehabt
- Sein → gewesen
Critical Formation Rules:
- Haben uses haben as its auxiliary verb: "ich habe gehabt"
- Sein uses sein as its auxiliary verb: "ich bin gewesen"
This is unusual - most verbs use haben as their auxiliary, but sein uses itself!
Example sentence
- Ich bin krank gewesen. (I have been ill.)
Gewesen is useful to know for exams, even though it's not always in the specification. It demonstrates the perfect tense formation with sein.
Translation practice
Translation Exercise: Testing Your Understanding
German to English:
- Ich habe Hunger.
- Wir waren müde.
English to German: 3. You are lucky. 4. They were afraid.
Answers:
- I am hungry.
- We were tired.
- Du hast Glück.
- Sie hatten Angst.
Key Points to Remember:
- Sein and haben are irregular in all tenses - memorise their forms
- Many German expressions use haben where English uses "to be" (Hunger haben, Angst haben, etc.)
- Sein forms its perfect tense with itself: ich bin gewesen
- The imperfect forms (war, hatte) are essential for past descriptions
- These verbs appear constantly in exams - practice them regularly!