Language/German/Grammar/Subject-and-Verb

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German → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Subject and Verb

Welcome to the lesson on Subject and Verb in German! Understanding the relationship between the subject and verb is essential for forming basic sentences. As we dive into this topic, you'll find that the German language has its own rhythm and rules, and once you grasp them, you'll be able to express yourself with clarity and confidence.

In this lesson, we'll cover:

• The definition of subject and verb

• The structure of basic sentences in German

• Examples to illustrate how subjects and verbs work together

• Practical exercises to reinforce your learning

So, let’s embark on this journey into German grammar!

The Basics of Subject and Verb

In German, as in English, every complete sentence must have at least a subject and a verb. The subject is the noun or pronoun that performs the action, while the verb describes what action is happening. This fundamental structure is crucial in constructing meaningful sentences.

What is the Subject?

The subject of a sentence is the person or thing that is doing the action. In German sentences, the subject usually comes first, especially in simple statements.

Examples of Subjects:

• Ich (I)

• Du (You - singular informal)

• Er (He)

• Sie (She)

• Es (It)

• Wir (We)

• Ihr (You - plural informal)

• Sie (They)

• Sie (You - formal)

What is the Verb?

The verb is the action word in the sentence. In German, verbs are conjugated to reflect the subject. This means that the form of the verb changes depending on who is performing the action.

Examples of Verbs:

• sein (to be)

• haben (to have)

• gehen (to go)

• essen (to eat)

• trinken (to drink)

Sentence Structure in German

The basic structure of a German sentence is relatively straightforward:

Subject + Verb

This structure is usually maintained in simple sentences. Let’s look at some examples:

German	Pronunciation	English
Ich bin.	ɪç bɪn	I am.
Du hast.	du hast	You have.
Er geht.	eːɐ̯ ɡeːt	He goes.
Sie isst.	ziː ɪst	She eats.
Wir trinken.	viːɐ̯ ˈtʁɪŋkən	We drink.
Ihr seid.	iːʁ zaɪt	You are.
Sie kommen.	ziː ˈkɔmən	They come.
Sie sprechen.	ziː ˈʃpʁɛçən	You (formal) speak.

To emphasize how important this structure is, let’s break it down further.

Example Sentences

Here are 20 more examples that illustrate the subject-verb relationship in various contexts:

German	Pronunciation	English
Ich spiele.	ɪç ˈʃpiːlə	I play.
Du lernst.	du lɛʁnst	You learn.
Er sieht.	eːɐ̯ ziːt	He sees.
Sie tanzt.	ziː tants	She dances.
Es regnet.	ɛs ˈʁeːɡnɛt	It is raining.
Wir singen.	viːɐ̯ ˈzɪŋən	We sing.
Ihr spielt.	iːʁ ˈʃpiːlt	You (plural) play.
Sie arbeiten.	ziː ˈaʁbaɪtən	They work.
Ich möchte.	ɪç ˈmøːçtə	I want.
Du fährst.	du fɛːʁst	You drive.
Er hört.	eːɐ̯ hœʁt	He hears.
Sie schreibt.	ziː ʃʁaɪpt	She writes.
Es funktioniert.	ɛs fʊŋktsi̯oˈniːʁt	It works.
Wir essen.	viːɐ̯ ˈɛsn̩	We eat.
Ihr kommt.	iːʁ kɔmt	You (plural) come.
Sie lesen.	ziː ˈleːzn̩	They read.
Ich finde.	ɪç ˈfɪndə	I find.
Du schreibst.	du ʃʁaɪpst	You write.
Er spielt.	eːɐ̯ ˈʃpiːlt	He plays.
Sie sagt.	ziː zaɪt	She says.

Exercises to Practice Subject and Verb

Now that you have been introduced to the subject and verb structure, let’s put your knowledge to the test! Here are 10 exercises for you to practice.

Exercise 1: Identifying the Subject and Verb

For each sentence below, identify the subject and the verb.

1. Ich habe einen Hund.

2. Sie tanzen im Park.

3. Er fährt mit dem Bus.

4. Wir lernen Deutsch.

5. Es schneit heute.

Answers:

1. Subject: Ich; Verb: habe

2. Subject: Sie; Verb: tanzen

3. Subject: Er; Verb: fährt

4. Subject: Wir; Verb: lernen

5. Subject: Es; Verb: schneit

Exercise 2: Complete the Sentence

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

1. Ich ___ (spielen) im Garten.

2. Du ___ (lernen) schnell.

3. Er ___ (essen) einen Apfel.

4. Wir ___ (trinken) Wasser.

5. Sie ___ (singen) ein Lied.

Answers:

1. spiele

2. lernst

3. isst

4. trinken

5. singen

Exercise 3: Sentence Construction

Create a complete sentence using the following subjects and verbs.

1. (Ich, essen)

2. (Du, tanzen)

3. (Sie, spielen)

4. (Wir, lernen)

5. (Er, gehen)

Answers:

1. Ich esse.

2. Du tanzt.

3. Sie spielen.

4. Wir lernen.

5. Er geht.

Exercise 4: True or False

Determine if the following statements are true or false.

1. "Ich sind" is a correct sentence.

2. "Er läuft" is a complete sentence.

3. "Wir haben" needs an object to be complete.

4. "Sie trinken" is correct.

5. "Es ist" is a valid sentence.

Answers:

1. False

2. True

3. False (it can be complete as is)

4. True

5. True

Exercise 5: Verb Conjugation

Conjugate the verb "gehen" (to go) for the following subjects.

1. Ich

2. Du

3. Er

4. Wir

5. Sie

Answers:

1. gehe

2. gehst

3. geht

4. gehen

5. gehen

Exercise 6: Match the Sentence with English Translation

Match the German sentences with their English translations.

1. Ich arbeite.

2. Du spielst.

3. Er liest.

4. Wir singen.

5. Sie tanzen.

A. You play.

B. I work.

C. He reads.

D. We sing.

E. They dance.

Answers:

1 - B

2 - A

3 - C

4 - D

5 - E

Exercise 7: Create Negative Sentences

Transform the following sentences into negative statements.

1. Ich spiele.

2. Du lernst.

3. Er geht.

4. Wir essen.

5. Sie trinken.

Answers:

1. Ich spiele nicht.

2. Du lernst nicht.

3. Er geht nicht.

4. Wir essen nicht.

5. Sie trinken nicht.

Exercise 8: Fill in the Blanks with Appropriate Subjects

Choose the correct subject to complete the sentences.

1. ___ (You - informal) gehst nach Hause.

2. ___ (They) spielen im Garten.

3. ___ (He) isst einen Kuchen.

4. ___ (We) lernen zusammen.

5. ___ (She) liest ein Buch.

Answers:

1. Du

2. Sie

3. Er

4. Wir

5. Sie

Exercise 9: Transform the Verbs into the Correct Form

Change the verbs in parentheses to the correct form to complete the sentences.

1. Ich ___ (haben) ein Auto.

2. Du ___ (sehen) die Blumen.

3. Er ___ (kommen) morgen.

4. Wir ___ (trinken) Kaffee.

5. Sie ___ (spielen) Klavier.

Answers:

1. habe

2. siehst

3. kommt

4. trinken

5. spielen

Exercise 10: Create Your Own Sentences

Write your own sentences using the following subjects and verbs.

1. Ich, gehen

2. Du, essen

3. Er, lesen

4. Wir, spielen

5. Sie, lernen

Example Answers:

1. Ich gehe.

2. Du isst.

3. Er liest.

4. Wir spielen.

5. Sie lernen.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You've just ventured into the world of German sentence structure with a focus on the subject and verb. Understanding how to form basic sentences is the foundation for further exploration of the German language. Keep practicing, and soon you'll be able to express yourself in a variety of situations.

This lesson is a stepping stone in your journey to A1 proficiency. Remember, practice makes perfect, and don't hesitate to revisit this lesson whenever you need a refresher.

Happy learning!

Table of Contents - German Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Basic Sentence Structures

• Subject and Verb
• Noun and Gender

  ---

Greetings and Introduction

• Greetings and Goodbyes
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Definite and Indefinite Articles

• Gender and Articles
• Plural Forms
• Cases: Nominative and Accusative

  ---

Numbers, Dates and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Days of the Week and Months
• Telling Time

  ---

Verbs and Conjugation

• Verb Forms
• Present Tense
• Separable Verbs

  ---

Family and Friends

• Family Members
• Talking About Your Friends

  ---

Prepositions

• Using Prepositions
• Two-Way Prepositions

  ---

Food and Drinks

• Food and Meals
• Drinks and Beverages

  ---

Germany and German-Speaking Countries

• Geography and Landmarks
• Cuisine and Traditions

  ---

Pronouns and Possessives

• Personal Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Booking a Trip
• Public Transportation

  ---

Modal Verbs

• Expressing Abilities
• Talking About Obligations

  ---

Shopping and Clothes

• Shopping for Clothes
• Buying Groceries

  ---

Music and Entertainment

• Popular Musicians and Genres
• Movies, TV and Literature

  ---

Adjectives

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Comparative and Superlative Forms

  ---

Health and Body

• Talking About Health
• Body Parts

  ---

Time and Temporal Prepositions

• Using Time Expressions
• Temporal Prepositions

Sources

• German Word Order: Your Essential Guide | German with Laura
• Sentence construction: subject | Grammar - Learn German - DW
• The basic German sentence structure - Lingoda

Other Lessons

• Using Time Expressions
• Questions
• 0 to A1 Course
• Plurals
• Talking About Obligations
• Possessive Pronouns
• Common Mistakes
• Plural Forms
• Simple negative sentences
• Be Polite

Next Lesson — Noun and Gender ▶️