Language/German/Grammar/Present-Tense

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German → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Present Tense

Welcome to this exciting lesson on the Present Tense in German! Understanding the present tense is crucial for anyone embarking on their German language journey, as it forms the backbone of daily communication. Whether you’re ordering a coffee, chatting with friends, or describing your daily activities, the present tense is your go-to tool.

In this lesson, we will explore:

  • What the present tense is and why it matters
  • How to conjugate regular and irregular verbs
  • A plethora of examples to illustrate usage
  • Practical exercises to solidify your understanding

So, grab a cup of tea, and let’s dive into the wonderful world of German verbs!

What is the Present Tense?[edit | edit source]

The present tense, or Präsens, in German is used to express actions that are currently happening or habitual actions. You can think of it as the equivalent of the English present simple tense. For example, "I eat" or "She works" translates to "Ich esse" and "Sie arbeitet" in German.

Why is it Important?[edit | edit source]

Mastering the present tense will enable you to:

  • Communicate effectively in everyday situations.
  • Describe your routine and hobbies.
  • Talk about what you and others are doing right now.

Structure of the Lesson[edit | edit source]

1. Understanding Regular Verbs

2. Conjugating Irregular Verbs

3. Detailed Examples

4. Practice Exercises

Understanding Regular Verbs[edit | edit source]

Regular verbs in German follow a predictable pattern when conjugated. The infinitive form of a regular verb typically ends in -en. To conjugate, you remove the -en and add the appropriate endings based on the subject of the sentence.

Regular Verb Conjugation[edit | edit source]

The endings for regular verbs are as follows:

  • -e for "ich" (I)
  • -st for "du" (you, informal singular)
  • -t for "er/sie/es" (he/she/it)
  • -en for "wir" (we)
  • -t for "ihr" (you, informal plural)
  • -en for "sie/Sie" (they/you, formal)

Here’s how it looks in a table for the verb spielen (to play):

German Pronunciation English
ich spiele ɪç ˈʃpiːlə I play
du spielst du ˈʃpiːlst you play (singular informal)
er/sie/es spielt eːɐ̯/ziː/ɛs ˈʃpiːlt he/she/it plays
wir spielen viːɐ̯ ˈʃpiːlən we play
ihr spielt iːɐ̯ ˈʃpiːlt you play (plural informal)
sie/Sie spielen ziː/ziː ˈʃpiːlən they/you play (formal)

Conjugating Irregular Verbs[edit | edit source]

Irregular verbs do not follow the standard conjugation patterns and must be memorized. A common irregular verb is sein (to be), which is essential for forming sentences.

Here’s how sein is conjugated:

German Pronunciation English
ich bin ɪç bɪn I am
du bist du bɪst you are (singular informal)
er/sie/es ist eːɐ̯/ziː/ɛs ɪst he/she/it is
wir sind viːɐ̯ zɪnt we are
ihr seid iːɐ̯ zaɪ̯t you are (plural informal)
sie/Sie sind ziː/ziː zɪnt they/you are (formal)

Examples of Present Tense Usage[edit | edit source]

Now, let's look at some examples of how to use the present tense in various contexts.

1. Talking about daily routines:

  • Ich stehe um 7 Uhr auf. (I get up at 7 o’clock.)
  • Du gehst zur Schule. (You go to school.)

2. Describing hobbies:

  • Sie spielt gern Klavier. (She likes to play the piano.)
  • Wir lesen Bücher. (We read books.)

3. Expressing feelings:

  • Ich bin müde. (I am tired.)
  • Er ist glücklich. (He is happy.)

4. Making plans:

  • Wir gehen morgen ins Kino. (We are going to the cinema tomorrow.)
  • Ihr esst heute Abend Pizza. (You are eating pizza tonight.)

5. Stating facts:

  • Die Erde ist rund. (The Earth is round.)
  • Wasser kocht bei 100 Grad. (Water boils at 100 degrees.)

6. Asking questions:

  • Was machst du? (What are you doing?)
  • Wo sind die Bücher? (Where are the books?)

More Examples[edit | edit source]

Here are additional examples to further illustrate the present tense:

German Pronunciation English
Ich trinke Wasser. ɪç ˈtʁɪŋkə ˈvasɐ I drink water.
Du arbeitest viel. du ˈaʁbaɪ̯tɛst fiːl You work a lot.
Er fährt Fahrrad. eːɐ̯ fɛːʁt ˈfaːʁat He rides a bike.
Wir essen gerne. viːɐ̯ ˈɛsn̩ ˈɡɛrnə We like to eat.
Ihr besucht eure Freunde. iːɐ̯ bəˈzuːkt ˈɔʏ̯ʁə ˈfʁɔʏ̯ndə You visit your friends.
Sie suchen die Schlüssel. ziː ˈzuːxən diː ˈʃlʏsəl They are looking for the keys.

Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]

Now that we have gone through the theory and examples, let’s put your knowledge to the test! Below are several exercises designed to reinforce your understanding of the present tense.

Exercise 1: Conjugate the Verb[edit | edit source]

Conjugate the following verb in the present tense: machen (to do/make)

1. ich ____

2. du ____

3. er/sie/es ____

4. wir ____

5. ihr ____

6. sie/Sie ____

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks[edit | edit source]

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

1. Ich ____ (spielen) Fußball.

2. Du ____ (lesen) ein Buch.

3. Er ____ (essen) einen Apfel.

4. Wir ____ (trinken) Kaffee.

5. Ihr ____ (arbeiten) im Garten.

6. Sie ____ (fahren) nach Berlin.

Exercise 3: Identify the Verb Tense[edit | edit source]

Read the sentences and identify whether they are in the present tense or not.

1. Ich bin müde.

2. Sie werden kommen.

3. Er spielt Klavier.

4. Ich habe Hunger.

5. Wir essen Pizza.

Exercise 4: Translate to German[edit | edit source]

Translate the following sentences into German.

1. I read a book.

2. You are happy.

3. They play soccer.

4. We drink tea.

5. He works at a bank.

Exercise 5: Create Sentences[edit | edit source]

Using the following verbs, create sentences in the present tense.

1. (gehen)

2. (schreiben)

3. (lernen)

4. (singen)

5. (tanzen)

Solutions and Explanations[edit | edit source]

Here are the solutions to the exercises along with explanations:

Exercise 1: Conjugate the Verb[edit | edit source]

1. ich mache

2. du machst

3. er/sie/es macht

4. wir machen

5. ihr macht

6. sie/Sie machen

Explanation: Notice how the verb changes according to the subject pronoun. Regular verbs follow a specific pattern.

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks[edit | edit source]

1. Ich spiele Fußball.

2. Du liest ein Buch.

3. Er isst einen Apfel.

4. Wir trinken Kaffee.

5. Ihr arbeitet im Garten.

6. Sie fahren nach Berlin.

Explanation: In this exercise, you practiced conjugating verbs based on the subject. Be attentive to irregular forms like "lesen" and "essen."

Exercise 3: Identify the Verb Tense[edit | edit source]

1. Present

2. Not present

3. Present

4. Not present

5. Present

Explanation: This exercise helps you recognize the present tense in various contexts.

Exercise 4: Translate to German[edit | edit source]

1. Ich lese ein Buch.

2. Du bist glücklich.

3. Sie spielen Fußball.

4. Wir trinken Tee.

5. Er arbeitet in einer Bank.

Explanation: Here, you practiced translating common sentences, reinforcing your vocabulary and understanding of verb conjugation.

Exercise 5: Create Sentences[edit | edit source]

1. Ich gehe zum Markt. (I am going to the market.)

2. Du schreibst einen Brief. (You are writing a letter.)

3. Wir lernen Deutsch. (We are learning German.)

4. Sie singen ein Lied. (They are singing a song.)

5. Er tanzt gerne. (He likes to dance.)

Explanation: In this exercise, you created your own sentences, which is a fantastic way to practice your language skills creatively.

Thank you for joining this lesson on the present tense in German! Keep practicing, and soon you will be using the present tense with confidence in your conversations.

Table of Contents - German Course - 0 to A1[edit source]


Basic Sentence Structures


Greetings and Introduction


Definite and Indefinite Articles


Numbers, Dates and Time


Verbs and Conjugation


Family and Friends


Prepositions


Food and Drinks


Germany and German-Speaking Countries


Pronouns and Possessives


Travel and Transportation


Modal Verbs


Shopping and Clothes


Music and Entertainment


Adjectives


Health and Body


Time and Temporal Prepositions

Videos[edit | edit source]

The German Present Tense Explained | A1 Beginner - YouTube[edit | edit source]

The Present Perfect Tense: German Strong Verbs - YouTube[edit | edit source]

German Irregular (Strong) Verbs Present Tense - YouTube[edit | edit source]


Sources[edit | edit source]


Other Lessons[edit | edit source]



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