Present Tense (Präsens)
The present tense in German, also known as Präsens Deutsch, is used to describe current actions and states. This page provides a comprehensive overview of how to form the present tense for regular verbs.
The conjugation pattern for regular verbs in the present tense is presented in a table format, showing the personal pronouns and their corresponding verb endings. This structure is fundamental for mastering Deutsche grammatik and is essential for beginners studying German A1.
Highlight: The present tense endings for regular verbs are: -e, -st, -t, -en, -t, -en, corresponding to ich, du, er/sie/es, wir, ihr, and sie/Sie respectively.
Examples are provided to illustrate the conjugation of the verb "spielen" (to play) in all persons:
Example:
- Ich spiele (I play)
- Du spielst (You play)
- Er/sie/es spielt (He/she/it plays)
- Wir spielen (We play)
- Ihr spielt (You all play)
- Sie spielen (They play)
The page also introduces the past tense formation, which is crucial for creating a Zeitformen Deutsch overview. It explains that the past tense in German consists of two main components:
- An auxiliary verb (haben or sein)
- The past participle of the main verb
Vocabulary: Past participle - In German, this is often formed by adding ge- to the beginning of the verb and -t or -en to the end, depending on whether the verb is regular or irregular.
The choice between "haben" and "sein" as auxiliary verbs is briefly explained, with "sein" being used primarily for verbs of movement or change of state.
Example: Ich habe Fußball gespielt. (I played football.) / Ich bin mit meinen Freunden ins Kino gegangen. (I went to the cinema with my friends.)
Lastly, the page introduces the future tense (Futur 1), which is formed using the auxiliary verb "werden" conjugated in the present tense, followed by the infinitive of the main verb at the end of the sentence.
Example: Ich werde am Wochenende ins Restaurant gehen. (I will go to the restaurant on the weekend.)
This comprehensive overview of German tenses provides a solid foundation for understanding the Zeitformen Tabelle and is an excellent resource for those seeking a German grammar Cheat Sheet PDF free download.