Present - Irregular Verbs (Leaving Cert German): Revision Notes
Present - Irregular Verbs
Overview
Irregular verbs in German are special verbs that change their stem when conjugated in the present tense. Unlike regular verbs that follow predictable patterns, these verbs (also known as "strong" verbs) modify their root vowel in certain forms. They are essential for everyday German communication and appear frequently in both spoken and written German.
Most irregular verbs follow the same ending patterns as regular verbs (-e, -st, -t, -en, -t, -en), but they undergo vowel changes in the stem, particularly in the 2nd person singular (du) and 3rd person singular (er/sie/es) forms.
Irregular verbs are among the most frequently used verbs in German. Mastering them early will significantly improve your ability to communicate effectively in German conversations.
Rules & formation
Irregular verbs work similarly to regular verbs for most conjugations, but they have distinctive vowel changes in specific persons.
Key Rule: Vowel changes occur only in the present tense singular forms for the 2nd person (du) and 3rd person (er/sie/es). All other forms (ich, wir, ihr, sie/Sie) follow regular patterns.
The formation follows these steps:
- Take the infinitive form of the irregular verb
- For ich, wir, ihr, and sie/Sie forms: remove -en and add regular endings
- For du and er/sie/es forms: change the stem vowel according to the pattern, then add the appropriate ending
There are four main vowel change patterns that irregular verbs follow:
| Vowel change | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| e > i | geben → gibt | to give |
| e > ie | stehlen → stiehlt | to steal |
| a > ä | halten → hält | to hold |
| au > äu | laufen → läuft | to run |
Table of key forms
Common irregular verb conjugation pattern
Conjugation Example: geben (to give)
| Person | Singular | English | Plural | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | ich gebe | I give | wir geben | we give |
| 2nd | du gibst | you give | ihr gebt | you give |
| 3rd | er/sie/es gibt | he/she/it gives | sie/Sie geben | they/you give |
Notice how only the du and er/sie/es forms show the vowel change from e → i.
Special case: wissen (to know a fact)
wissen is an exceptional irregular verb with its own unique conjugation pattern that doesn't follow the standard four patterns above.
| 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 know |
Example sentences
Practical Usage Examples
Er gibt mir das Buch. (He gives me the book.)
- Here, the verb geben changes from e to i in the 3rd person singular form gibt.
Du läufst sehr schnell. (You run very fast.)
- The verb laufen shows the au > äu vowel change in the 2nd person singular form läufst.
Sie hält den Ball. (She holds the ball.)
- The verb halten demonstrates the a > ä change in the 3rd person singular form hält.
Ich weiß die Antwort nicht. (I don't know the answer.)
- The special verb wissen has its own irregular conjugation pattern throughout.
Wir stehlen nichts. (We don't steal anything.)
- In the 1st person plural, stehlen keeps its regular form without vowel change.
Common mistakes & tips
Mistake 1: Applying vowel changes to all persons
Students often incorrectly change the vowel in forms like ich or wir. Remember that vowel changes only occur in du and er/sie/es forms.
- Wrong: Ich gibst das Buch
- Correct: Ich gebe das Buch
Mistake 2: Forgetting the vowel change entirely
Don't treat irregular verbs like regular ones.
- Wrong: Er gebt das Buch
- Correct: Er gibt das Buch
Mistake 3: Confusing wissen with regular patterns
The verb wissen has a completely unique conjugation that doesn't follow the standard irregular verb patterns.
- Wrong: Du wissst
- Correct: Du weißt
Dictionary tip: When looking up irregular verbs, you'll need to search for the infinitive form (like geben), not the changed form (like gibt). Learning the four main vowel change patterns will help you identify which infinitive to look for.
Memory aid: Practice the most common irregular verbs daily, as they appear frequently in German conversation and writing.
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- Irregular verbs change their stem vowel only in du and er/sie/es forms in the present tense
- There are four main vowel change patterns: e>i, e>ie, a>ä, and au>äu
- The verb wissen (to know a fact) has a completely unique conjugation pattern
- Irregular verbs still use the same endings as regular verbs (-e, -st, -t, -en, -t, -en)
- When using a dictionary, always look up the infinitive form, not the conjugated form with vowel changes