Basic German Grammar Topics
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German-Gender of Nouns4 Topics
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German-Nominative4 Topics
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German-Numbers4 Topics
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German-Adjectives4 Topics
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German-Personal Pronouns & the Verb sein4 Topics
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German-Regular Verbs in the Present Tense4 Topics
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German-Plural Formation4 Topics
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German-Haben and the Accusative Case4 Topics
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German-Word Order4 Topics
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German-Definite Articles4 Topics
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German-Indefinite Articles4 Topics
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German-Negation5 Topics
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German-Modal Verbs4 Topics
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German-Separable Prefix Verbs4 Topics
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German-Coordinating Conjunctions4 Topics
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German-Konjunktiv I4 Topics
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German-Possessive Pronouns4 Topics
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German Question Words4 Topics
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German-Present Perfect of Regular Verbs4 Topics
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German-Present Perfect of Irregular Verbs4 Topics
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German-Present Perfect of Mixed Verbs4 Topics
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German-Dative Case5 Topics
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German-Two Way Prepositions4 Topics
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German-Dative Prepositions4 Topics
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German-Conditionals4 Topics
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German-Future Tense4 Topics
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German-Dative Verbs4 Topics
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German-Simple Past Tense4 Topics
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German-Imperative4 Topics
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German-Comparative4 Topics
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German-Temporal Prepositions4 Topics
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German-Present Perfect Separable Prefix Verbs4 Topics
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German-Irregular Verbs4 Topics
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German-Present Perfect Inseparable Prefix Verbs4 Topics
Participants 257
German irregular verbs, also called strong verbs in German, can be distinguished from the other types of verbs. In German, there are about 150 strong verbs. The vowel, which normally changes in the verb, is called “Ablaut”. There’s more… let’s look.
In English and in German, there are different kinds of verbs. What constitutes an irregular verb is if there are conjugation changes in either the simple present tense (das Präsens), or the the simple past (das Präteritum/Imperfekt), that differ from the regular conjugation patterns. Verbs that show now changes in their conjugation in any of the tenses are called “regular verbs”. Verbs that have irregularities in their conjugation in any or all of the tenses is considered an “irregular verb”.
1. Regular verbs
To demonstrate this, let’s first look at a verb that shows no irregularities in its conjugation. This means that the word stem stays the same for all pronouns and all tenses. (Example: spielen – to play)
German irregular verbs, also called strong verbs in German, can be distinguished from the other types of verbs. In German, there are about 150 strong verbs. The vowel, which normally changes in the verb, is called “Ablaut”. There’s more… let’s look.
In English and in German, there are different kinds of verbs. What constitutes an irregular verb is if there are conjugation changes in either the simple present tense (das Präsens), or the the simple past (das Präteritum/Imperfekt), that differ from the regular conjugation patterns. Verbs that show now changes in their conjugation in any of the tenses are called “regular verbs”. Verbs that have irregularities in their conjugation in any or all of the tenses is considered an “irregular verb”.
1. Regular verbs
To demonstrate this, let’s first look at a verb that shows no irregularities in its conjugation. This means that the word stem stays the same for all pronouns and all tenses. (Example: spielen – to play)
Notice how in the example above, the vowel change appears for “du” and “er/sie/es”. The word stem is also different in the simple past conjugation.
The verb “sein” (to be), and “haben” (to have) are both irregular verbs, as they follow an irregular conjugation pattern.
3. Common Vowel Changes in the Present Tense
a -> ä
Examples: schlafen, laufen, tragen
Ich schlafe, du schläfst, er/sie/es schläft, wir schlafen, ihr schlaft, sie/Sie schlafen
e -> i
Examples: geben, essen, helfen, sprechen
Ich gebe, du gibst, er/sie/es gibt, wir geben, ihr gebt, sie/Sie geben
e -> ie
Examples: sehen, lesen,
Ich sehe, du siehst, er/sie/es sieht, wir sehen, ihr seht, sie/Sie sehen