The present tense (Präsens) in German is used to express actions happening now, habitual actions, and future actions.
- Current actions: Describing what is happening right now
- Example: Ich lese gerade ein Buch. (I am currently reading a book.)
- Habitual actions: Describing routines or repeated actions
- Example: Ich trinke jeden Morgen Kaffee. (I drink coffee every morning.)
- General truths: Expressing facts that are always true
- Example: Wasser kocht bei 100 Grad Celsius. (Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.)
- Future events: Talking about planned future events (often with a time expression)
- Example: Morgen fahre ich nach Berlin. (Tomorrow I'm going to Berlin.)
Regular Verb Conjugation
Regular verbs follow predictable patterns when conjugated in the present tense. Here's how to form the present tense with regular verbs:
Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
ich | stem + e | ich spiele (I play) |
du | stem + st | du spielst (you play) |
er/sie/es | stem + t | er/sie/es spielt (he/she/it plays) |
wir | stem + en | wir spielen (we play) |
ihr | stem + t | ihr spielt (you all play) |
sie/Sie | stem + en | sie/Sie spielen (they/you formal play) |
Special Cases for Regular Verbs
Some regular verbs require small spelling changes in their conjugation:
- Verbs ending in -ten, -den, -gnen, -tmen: Add an extra 'e' in the du/er/sie/es/ihr forms
- Example: arbeiten (to work) → du arbeitest, er arbeitet
- Verbs ending in -eln: Drop the 'e' in the ich form
- Example: lächeln (to smile) → ich lächle
- Verbs ending in -ern: Often drop the 'e' in the ich form
- Example: wandern (to hike) → ich wandre/wandere
Irregular Verb Conjugation
Many verbs in German do not follow the regular conjugation patterns in present tense. For a more comprehensive understanding of German verbs, please refer to: