Present - Irregular Verbs (Junior Cert German): Revision Notes
Present - Irregular Verbs
Overview
Irregular verbs, sometimes called "strong verbs" in German, behave differently from regular verbs when you conjugate them. While they use the same endings as regular verbs, they change their stem vowel in certain forms. These verbs are essential for everyday German communication, as many common verbs like "geben" (to give), "halten" (to hold), and "laufen" (to run) are irregular.
The key difference is that irregular verbs modify their root vowel in the present tense, specifically in the second person singular (du) and third person singular (er/sie/es) forms. This change helps distinguish different meanings and makes German speech more precise and natural.
The vowel change in irregular verbs is not random - it follows predictable patterns that you can learn to recognise. This systematic approach makes mastering irregular verbs much more manageable than memorising each verb individually.
Rules & formation
Irregular verbs follow the same ending pattern as regular verbs, but their stem undergoes a vowel change in two specific forms. The vowel change only occurs in the second person singular (du form) and third person singular (er/sie/es form). All other forms keep the original stem vowel from the infinitive.
When conjugating irregular verbs, start with the infinitive form, then apply the appropriate vowel change for du and er/sie/es forms, and finally add the standard present tense endings. The first person singular (ich), first person plural (wir), second person plural (ihr), and third person plural (sie/Sie) all maintain the original stem vowel.
Critical Rule: Only two forms change in irregular verbs - the du form and the er/sie/es form. All other forms (ich, wir, ihr, sie/Sie) keep the original stem vowel from the infinitive. This is the fundamental principle that governs all irregular verb conjugations.
There are four main patterns of vowel changes that irregular verbs follow. These patterns help you predict how a verb will change, though you'll need to learn which pattern each verb follows through practice and exposure.
Table of key forms
Vowel change patterns
| Pattern | Infinitive → 3rd person singular | English meaning | Vowel change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pattern 1 | geben → gibt | to give → gives | e → i |
| Pattern 2 | stehlen → stiehlt | to steal → steals | e → ie |
| Pattern 3 | halten → hält | to hold → holds | a → ä |
| Pattern 4 | laufen → läuft | to run → runs | au → äu |
Special case: wissen (to know a fact)
| Person | Singular | English | Plural | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | ich weiß | I know | wir wissen | we know |
| 2nd | du weißt | you know | ihr wisst | you know |
| 3rd | er/sie/es weiß | he/she/it knows | sie/Sie wissen | they/you (formal) know |
Example sentences
Pattern 1 (e → i) Examples:
Du gibst mir das Buch. (You give me the book.) Er gibt seiner Schwester Geld. (He gives his sister money.)
The verb "geben" changes from 'e' to 'i' in these forms to show the action more precisely.
Pattern 2 (e → ie) Examples:
Du stiehlst meine Zeit! (You're stealing my time!) Sie stiehlt das Auto. (She steals the car.)
Here "stehlen" lengthens the 'e' to 'ie' in the du and er/sie/es forms.
Pattern 3 (a → ä) Examples:
Du hältst den Ball. (You hold the ball.) Der Bus hält hier. (The bus stops here.)
The verb "halten" adds an umlaut to the 'a' in these conjugated forms.
Pattern 4 (au → äu) Examples:
Du läufst sehr schnell. (You run very fast.) Das Kind läuft nach Hause. (The child runs home.)
With "laufen", the 'au' becomes 'äu' with an umlaut in the changed forms.
Special case - wissen:
Ich weiß die Antwort. (I know the answer.) Du weißt, wo sie wohnt. (You know where she lives.)
The verb "wissen" is completely irregular and must be memorised separately.
Common mistakes & tips
Common Error: Many students try to apply regular verb endings to irregular verbs without considering the vowel changes. Remember that the endings remain the same (-e, -st, -t, -en, -t, -en), but the stem vowel changes in du and er/sie/es forms.
Don't worry about memorising every irregular verb immediately. Focus on recognising the four vowel change patterns, as this will help you identify irregular verbs when you encounter them. Most dictionaries and grammar books include lists of common irregular verbs.
Dictionary Tip: When looking up irregular verbs in a dictionary, always search for the infinitive form (like "geben"), not the conjugated form (like "gibt"). This is why recognising the patterns is so helpful - you can work backwards from the conjugated form to find the dictionary entry.
Special Warning: A common error is forgetting that "wissen" is completely irregular and doesn't follow any of the four standard patterns. Practice this verb separately as it's frequently used in everyday German.
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- Irregular verbs change their stem vowel only in du and er/sie/es forms
- There are four main vowel change patterns: e→i, e→ie, a→ä, au→äu
- The verb endings remain the same as regular verbs (-e, -st, -t, -en, -t, -en)
- "Wissen" is a special case with its own unique conjugation pattern
- Always look up irregular verbs using their infinitive formin the dictionary