Language/German/Grammar/How-to-Use-Have
Hi German learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to use "have" in German. Understanding its usage is crucial as it is a crucial verb when it comes to formulating different tenses in German.
After mastering this lesson, these related pages might interest you: Gender, Be Polite, Verb Forms & Imperative Tense.
Basic usage[edit | edit source]
The German verb for "have" is "haben". It is an irregular verb that is used in the present tense to show possession, such as:
| German | Pronunciation | English | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ich habe | [ɪç ˈhaːbə] | I have | Du hast | [duː hast] | You have (informal) | Er/sie/es hat | [eːɐ̯ ziː ɛs hat] | He/she/it has | Wir haben | [vɪɐ̯ ˈhaːbən] | We have | Ihr habt | [iːɐ̯ hat] | You have (plural, informal) | Sie haben | [ziː ˈhaːbən] | They have or You have (formal) |
For example:
- Ich habe ein Auto. - I have a car.
- Sie hat eine Katze. - She has a cat.
- Wir haben ein Haus. - We have a house.
The verb "haben" can also be used to form future tense, as in:
- Ich werde morgen Englisch haben. - I will have English tomorrow.
- Sie werden später Zeit haben. - They will have time later.
Perfect tense[edit | edit source]
In German, the perfect tense is used to describe an action that has already been completed. It is formed using the auxiliary verb "haben" in the present tense along with the past participle of the main verb.
The past participle is formed differently depending on the verb. For regular verbs, it is formed by adding "ge-" at the front of the verb and "-t" or "-et" at the end. For irregular verbs, it must be memorized.
Here are some examples of "haben" in perfect tense:
| German | Pronunciation | English | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ich habe gespielt. | [ɪç ˈhaːbə ɡəˈʃpiːlt] | I have played. | Du hast getanzt. | [du hast ɡəˈtanst] | You have danced. (informal) | Er/sie/es hat gelacht. | [eːɐ̯ ziː ɛs hat ɡəˈlaxt] | He/she/it has laughed. | Wir haben gebucht. | [vɪɐ̯ ˈhaːbən ɡəˈbuːxt] | We have booked. | Ihr habt getrunken. | [iːɐ̯ hart ɡəˈtrʊŋkən] | You have drunk. (plural, informal) | Sie haben geschlafen. | [ziː ˈhaːbən ɡəˈʃlaːfn̩] | They have slept or You have slept (formal). |
Conversational examples[edit | edit source]
Here is a dialogue to show you how to use "haben" in a conversation:
- Person 1: Hast du gestern Deutsch gelernt? (Have you learned German yesterday?)
- Person 2: Ja, ich habe gestern Deutsch gelernt. (Yes, I have learned German yesterday.)
- Person 1: Hat dein Bruder schon das neue Auto? (Has your brother got the new car?)
- Person 2: Ja, er hat das neue Auto gekauft. (Yes, he has bought the new car.)
- Person 1: Habt ihr das Buch gelesen? (Have you read the book?)
- Person 2: Nein, wir haben das Buch noch nicht gelesen. (No, we haven't read the book yet.)
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Using "haben" in German is important to show possession and to form perfect tense. We have learned how to use it and even saw examples of it in everyday conversations. Mastering the use of "haben" is crucial, and with practice, it will be used naturally.
To improve your German Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
With this lesson finished, you may want to explore these additional pages: Gender, Plurals, Possessive Case in German & Common Mistakes.