How do I conjugate German verbs?GermanMind method
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  • Writer's pictureSarah
    • Feb 20, 2023
    • 3 min read

How do I conjugate German verbs?

In German, verbs are conjugated to show the tense, person, and number of the subject. Here's a general overview of how to conjugate regular verbs in the present tense:




Find the stem: To conjugate a regular verb, you need to find its stem. The stem is the base form of the verb, without the "-en" ending. For example, the stem of "kaufen" (to buy) is "kauf-". Add the appropriate ending: Once you have the stem, you can add the appropriate ending to match the subject. In the present tense, the endings are:

  • ich (I): -e (e.g. kaufe)

  • du (you, informal): -st (e.g. kaufst)

  • er/sie/es (he/she/it): -t (e.g. kauft)

  • wir (we): -en (e.g. kaufen)

  • ihr (you, informal plural): -t (e.g. kauft)

  • sie/Sie (they/you, formal): -en (e.g. kaufen)

So, for example, to conjugate "kaufen" in the present tense:

  • ich kaufe (I buy)

  • du kaufst (you buy)

  • er/sie/es kauft (he/she/it buys)

  • wir kaufen (we buy)

  • ihr kauft (you all buy)

  • sie/Sie kaufen (they/you formal buy)

Note that some verbs are irregular and may not follow this pattern. In addition, different tenses and moods have their own specific conjugation rules.

It's a good idea to study verb conjugation charts and practice conjugating verbs in context to become more familiar with German verb forms.


Here are four tips for conjugating German verbs in the easiest way possible:

  1. Learn the stem-changing verbs: In German, there are some verbs that change their stem vowel when conjugated. For example, the verb "fahren" (to drive) becomes "fähr-" in the second and third person singular forms. By learning these stem changes, you can quickly recognize and conjugate these verbs correctly.

  2. Use regular verb patterns: Most German verbs follow regular conjugation patterns. By learning these patterns, you can easily conjugate many common verbs without having to memorize each one individually. For example, most regular verbs in the present tense take the endings "-e", "-st", "-t", "-en", "-t", and "-en" for the ich, du, er/sie/es, wir, ihr, and sie/Sie forms, respectively.

  3. Practice with context: Conjugating verbs in context can help you better understand how to use them correctly. Read and listen to German texts or conversations, and try to identify verb forms and understand how they are used in the sentence. Also, try to speak and write in German as much as possible to practice your verb conjugation skills.

  4. Use online resources: There are many online resources available to help you conjugate German verbs. Websites and apps such as Duolingo, Babbel, and Lingoda offer conjugation practice exercises and verb tables to help you learn and practice verb forms.

Overall, the easiest way to conjugate German verbs is to study and practice regularly, and to focus on learning the regular patterns and common irregularities. With practice and repetition, conjugating German verbs will become more natural and intuitive.






For beginner students learning German, it's important to start with the basics of verb conjugation.

Here's a step-by-step guide to help you conjugate German verbs:


1. Learn the present tense endings: In the present tense, German verbs have six different endings, one for each person (ich, du, er/sie/es, wir, ihr, sie/Sie). The endings are:

  • ich: -e

  • du: -st

  • er/sie/es: -t

  • wir: -en

  • ihr: -t

  • sie/Sie: -en

2. Identify the verb stem: The verb stem is the base form of the verb, without the "-en" ending. For example, in the verb "sagen" (to say), the stem is "sag-".


3. Add the appropriate ending: Add the correct ending to the verb stem to match the subject. For example, to conjugate "sagen" in the present tense:

  • ich sage (I say)

  • du sagst (you say)

  • er/sie/es sagt (he/she/it says)

  • wir sagen (we say)

  • ihr sagt (you all say)

  • sie/Sie sagen (they/you formal say)


4. Practice with regular verbs: Regular verbs follow a predictable pattern of conjugation. For example, the verb "spielen" (to play) follows the same conjugation pattern as "sagen". Once you learn the pattern, you can apply it to many other verbs.


5. Learn irregular verbs: Some verbs do not follow the regular conjugation patterns. It's important to learn these verbs separately and practice them until they become familiar. For example, the verb "sein" (to be) has an irregular conjugation in the present tense:

  • ich bin (I am)

  • du bist (you are)

  • er/sie/es ist (he/she/it is)

  • wir sind (we are)

  • ihr seid (you all are)

  • sie/Sie sind (they/you formal are)


6. Practice in context: Practice conjugating verbs in context, such as in sentences or short conversations. This will help you better understand how the verb is used and reinforce the correct conjugation.







Overall, conjugating German verbs can be challenging for beginner students, but with practice and repetition, it will become easier over time. Remember to focus on the present tense endings, verb stems, and irregular verbs, and to practice regularly in context.



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