German Verbs
German Verbs
Verbs are words that can be used to describe a subject’s action, process or state in a sentence. There are a large number of verbs in the German language. The following is a list of the most common verbs used in German:
| Verbs | Meaning |
|---|---|
| fragen | to ask/question |
| antworten | to answer |
| wiederholen | to repeat |
| kommen | to come |
| wohnen | to live/stay |
| heißen | to be called |
| sagen | to say |
| danken | to thank |
| helfen | to help |
| fahren | to drive |
| spielen | to play |
| schwimmen | to swim |
| laufen | to run |
| springen | to jump |
| entspannen | to relax |
| spazieren gehen | to go for a walk |
| gehen | to go |
| singen | to sing |
| essen | to eat |
| drinken | to drink |
| sitzen | to sit |
| stehen | to stand |
| schlafen | to sleep |
| wecken | to wake |
| lernen | lo learn |
| lehren | to teach |
| studieren | to study |
| beobachten | to observe |
| singen | to sing |
| lesen | to read |
| hören | to hear |
| schreiben | to write |
| sprechen | to speak |
| machen | to do/to make |
| putzen | to clean |
| benutzen | to use |
| mögen | to like |
| brauchen | to need/to require |
| bringen | to bring |
| nehmen | to take |
| kennen | to know (someone)/to be acquainted with |
| wissen | to know |
| kennen lernen | to get to know |
| empfehlen | to recommend |
Auxiliary Verbs
German has three auxiliary verbs, including sein (to be), haben (to have), and werden (to become).
sein (to be) – Present Tense
| Pronoun | sein (to be) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ich | bin | I am |
| du | bist | You are |
| er | ist | He is |
| sie | ist | She is |
| es | ist | It is |
| wir | sind | We are |
| ihr | seid | You are |
| Sie | sind | You are |
| sie | sind | They are |
haben (to have) – Present Tense
| Pronoun | haben (to have) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ich | habe | I have |
| du | hast | You have |
| er | hat | He has |
| sie | hat | She has |
| es | hat | It has |
| wir | haben | We have |
| ihr | habt | You have |
| Sie | haben | You have |
| sie | haben | They have |
werden (to become) – Present Tense
| Pronoun | werden (to become) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ich | werde | I become |
| du | wirst | You become |
| er | wird | He becomes |
| sie | wird | She becomes |
| es | wird | It becomes |
| wir | werden | We become |
| ihr | werdet | You become |
| Sie | werden | You become |
| sie | werden | They become |
sein (to be) – Past Tense
| Pronoun | sein (to be) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ich | war | I was |
| du | warst | You were |
| er | war | He was |
| sie | war | She was |
| es | war | It was |
| wir | waren | We were |
| ihr | wart | You were |
| Sie | waren | You were |
| sie | waren | They were |
haben (to have) – Past Tense
| Pronoun | haben (to have) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ich | hatte | I had |
| du | hattest | You had |
| er | hatte | He had |
| sie | hatte | She had |
| es | hatte | It had |
| wir | hatten | We had |
| ihr | hattet | You had |
| Sie | hatten | You had |
| sie | hatten | They had |
werden (to become) – Past Tense
| Pronoun | werden (to become) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ich | wurde | I became |
| du | wurdest | You became |
| er | wurde | He became |
| sie | wurde | She became |
| es | wurde | It became |
| wir | wurden | We became |
| ihr | wurdet | You became |
| Sie | wurden | You became |
| sie | wurden | They became |
sein (to be) – Present Perfect Tense
| Pronoun | sein (to be) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ich | bin gewesen | I have been |
| du | bist gewesen | You have been |
| er | ist gewesen | He has been |
| sie | ist gewesen | She has been |
| es | ist gewesen | It has been |
| wir | sind gewesen | We have been |
| ihr | seid gewesen | You have been |
| Sie | sind gewesen | You have been |
| sie | sind gewesen | They have been |
haben (to have) – Present Perfect Tense
| Pronoun | haben (to have) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ich | habe gehabt | I have had |
| du | hast gehabt | You have had |
| er | hat gehabt | He has had |
| sie | hat gehabt | She has had |
| es | hat gehabt | It has had |
| wir | haben gehabt | We have had |
| ihr | habt gehabt | You have had |
| Sie | haben gehabt | You have had |
| sie | haben gehabt | They have had |
werden (to become) – Present Perfect Tense
| Pronoun | werden (to become) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ich | bin geworden | I have become |
| du | bist geworden | You have become |
| er | ist geworden | He has become |
| sie | ist geworden | She has become |
| es | ist geworden | It has become |
| wir | sind geworden | We have become |
| ihr | seid geworden | You have become |
| Sie | sind geworden | You have become |
| sie | sind geworden | They have become |
